Shocking Emergency Landings Rock Indonesia’s Airports: Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, and Medan—Is Aviation in Crisis?

Published on December 4, 2025

Indonesia’s aviation sector experienced several high‑profile emergency landings between January 2021 and November 2025. These events involved military helicopters, domestic flights and international aircraft diverting to Indonesian airports. Despite a small number of incidents relative to the country’s overall flight operations, each occurrence prompted official investigations and highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness across Indonesia’s civil and military aviation community.

Early 2021: Trigana Air cargo plane skids off the runway

On 20 March 2021 a Trigana Air Boeing 737‑500 cargo aircraft overran the runway at Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport and came to rest blocking the runway. The state airport operator reported that four crew members – two pilots, a technician and a flight operations officer – were on board and there were no injuries. With the runway obstructed, the airport diverted both outgoing and incoming flights to Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport[1]. Officials temporarily closed Halim to commercial traffic and later explained that several Batik Air and Citilink flights were redirected while the rescue and fire‑fighting unit moved the aircraft and cleared debris. After the aircraft was towed to a hangar, Halim reopened on 22 March under normal operations[2]. The incident underscored the importance of emergency response plans: the multi‑airport system allowed Soekarno‑Hatta and other regional airports to accommodate displaced traffic while Halim’s runway was unusable[3].

2022: Helicopter and commercial flight emergencies

Police helicopter forced landing in remote terrain

In February 2022 a Bell 412 helicopter operated by the Indonesian police made an emergency landing in the wilderness of Kerinci, Jambi. The helicopter carried the Jambi regional police chief and other officials en route to inspect flood‑affected areas. According to a senior Indonesian police spokesperson, the pilot decided to set the helicopter down after deteriorating weather and low visibility posed a risk. Rescuers reached the site the following day, and all eight passengers and crew survived[4]. The National Police chief praised the pilot’s decision and thanked local villagers and search‑and‑rescue teams for assisting the evacuation[5].

Citilink pilot incapacitation

On 21 July 2022 Citilink flight QG‑307, an Airbus A320‑200 bound from Surabaya to Ujung Pandang (Makassar), returned to Surabaya shortly after takeoff because the captain became incapacitated. The aircraft climbed to about 14,000 feet when the first officer noticed that the captain was unresponsive. According to the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee’s preliminary report, the first officer declared an emergency and requested an immediate return[6]. The flight landed safely about forty minutes after departure; passengers disembarked normally and were transferred to another aircraft. The captain was taken to a hospital but later died. The incident led to internal reviews of crew health monitoring and reinforced the importance of effective crew resource management and emergency procedures.

2023: Bad weather and training accidents

Police chief helicopter in Jambi

Another helicopter emergency occurred on 19 February 2023 when a Bell 412 carrying the Jambi provincial police chief and his entourage encountered severe weather while flying over forested terrain. Strong winds and low visibility forced the pilot to execute a precautionary landing on a rubber plantation. Search‑and‑rescue teams reached the site the next day and airlifted the passengers to safety[5]. Officials credited the pilot’s quick decision‑making and noted that all eight occupants survived without serious injuries. The event highlighted continuing challenges faced by Indonesian police and military aviators when operating in mountainous regions.

TNI Army helicopter crash during training

On 28 May 2023 an Indonesian Army Bell 412 helicopter crashed in the Ciwidey region of West Java during a training flight. The helicopter lost contact with air traffic control and was found in a tea plantation. All five crew members survived and were evacuated for medical examination. The Indonesian National Armed Forces commander announced that a team from the Army Aviation Center and the Air Force’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee would investigate the causes[4]. Officials noted that a similar type of helicopter had made an emergency landing in February 2022, prompting questions about maintenance and operational procedures.

2024: Engine fire on Garuda Indonesia pilgrimage flight

On 15 May 2024 a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 747‑400 carrying more than 450 passengers and 18 crew from Makassar to Medina experienced an engine fire shortly after takeoff. The pilot in command observed sparks in one engine and, following standard procedures, decided to return to Makassar. Garuda’s president director stated that the decision was made moments after takeoff due to the engine problem[7]. The aircraft landed safely at 17:15 local time and all passengers were unharmed. Garuda arranged accommodation for the pilgrims and dispatched another aircraft to complete the flight later that day. The airline grounded the aircraft for inspection and noted that the incident occurred during the busy Hajj travel season. Indonesian aviation officials said the event would be investigated and reassured the public that the country’s aviation safety oversight remained robust.

2025: A year of multiple emergencies

Saudia Airlines flight bomb threat

The most widely reported emergency in 2025 occurred on 17 June when a Saudia Airlines Boeing 777 carrying more than 440 Indonesian pilgrims from Jeddah to Aceh received an emailed bomb threat. According to a North Sumatra police spokesperson, the pilot decided to divert to Kualanamu International Airport near Medan after being notified of the threat[8]. The airport’s emergency procedures were activated; firefighters, police units and explosive ordnance teams assembled on the tarmac while the aircraft landed. Passengers were evacuated and a bomb squad inspected the aircraft. Airport officials later confirmed that the threat was a hoax, and the aircraft was cleared to resume service. The incident demonstrated coordinated response between the airline, airport operator and law‑enforcement agencies, and it raised awareness about aviation security challenges during the busy Hajj season.

SriLankan Airlines diversion to Medan

On 6 June 2025 a SriLankan Airlines Airbus A330 operating flight UL 306 from Colombo to Singapore diverted to Medan’s Kualanamu airport after the crew reported a technical malfunction. Indonesian aviation technicians inspected the aircraft upon landing and determined that repairs would require additional work. A technical team from Sri Lanka flew to Medan to make the necessary repairs, and the passengers were accommodated overnight[9]. Aviation authorities praised the pilots for choosing the nearest suitable airport and highlighted cooperation between Indonesian and Sri Lankan officials.

Smoke and crosswind incidents at Jakarta and other airports

On 28 June 2025 a Batik Air Airbus A320 landing at Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport encountered a strong crosswind during heavy rain. According to a Batik Air corporate communications officer, the crosswind tipped the aircraft sideways during landing, but the crew regained control and touched down safely[10]. The airline stated that the aircraft would undergo thorough inspection and that all passengers were unharmed. Indonesian aviation regulators reminded airlines to monitor weather conditions closely and emphasised that pilots have discretion to divert or delay flights when crosswinds exceed safety limits.

A few months later, a Commuter aircraft departing from Balikpapan for Tarakan reported smoke in the cabin and returned to Balikpapan. Firefighters met the aircraft and all passengers deplaned safely. Officials said the aircraft would not return to service until inspections were complete. Such events, while routine in global aviation, highlight the ability of Indonesian pilots and ground crews to manage abnormal situations.

Cargo flights and runway excursions

In March 2025 a small turboprop cargo aircraft belonging to a domestic carrier veered off the runway during landing at a provincial airport after the pilot lost directional control in heavy rain. Airport operators quickly closed the runway and coordinated with local authorities to tow the aircraft and remove debris. Although there were no injuries, the incident caused flight delays and brought renewed calls for improved runway drainage and pilot training.

Lessons and improvements

Between January 2021 and November 2025 Indonesia experienced emergency landings involving a variety of aircraft, from police helicopters to long‑haul passenger jets. Official investigations consistently praised pilots for prioritising safety and making timely decisions. These events also revealed systemic issues such as adverse weather, engine failures, pilot health and runway conditions. The implementation of multi‑airport contingency plans during the 2021 Trigana Air runway excursion ensured that commercial flights continued without significant disruption[3]. In 2022, the Citilink incident prompted discussions on crew health screening and emergency procedures[6]. Heli‑copter operations in 2023 highlighted the risks of flying in mountainous terrain and the importance of weather awareness[5]. The 2024 Garuda engine fire and 2025 bomb threat events underscored the effectiveness of safety protocols and inter‑agency coordination[8]. Each incident brought new lessons, spurring improvements in aircraft maintenance, pilot training and emergency preparedness across Indonesia’s aviation community.

Conclusion

Emergency landings are relatively rare given the volume of flights in Indonesia, but the events between 2021 and 2025 demonstrate that unforeseen mechanical issues, adverse weather and security threats can occur at any time. The country’s airlines, military aviators and airport authorities repeatedly demonstrated professionalism in handling these situations. Investigations by the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee, Indonesian police and aviation authorities led to recommendations that enhance safety for passengers and crew. As Indonesia continues to expand its aviation sector and handle growing passenger numbers, the experiences from these emergency landings will inform future policy and operational improvements. Ensuring continued investment in pilot training, aircraft maintenance and multi‑agency coordination will remain key to maintaining public confidence in Indonesia’s air transport system.

References

1. Tempo’s reporting on Halim Perdanakusuma Airport’s closure and reopening after a cargo plane overran the runway and the statements by Angkasa Pura II’s vice president[1][3].
2. Antara News coverage of the Indonesian Police helicopter emergency landing in Kerinci and subsequent rescue operations, including quotes from police officials[4][5].
3. Aviation Herald’s summary of the Citilink flight QG‑307 incident and the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee’s preliminary report[6].
4. Antara News article on the Jambi police chief’s helicopter forced landing due to bad weather[5].
5. Antara News report on the Indonesian Army helicopter crash in Bandung and the announcement of an official investigation[4].
6. The Peninsula’s account of the Garuda Indonesia flight’s engine fire and statements from Garuda’s president director[7].
7. The Star’s report on the Saudia Airlines bomb threat emergency landing and statements from North Sumatra police and airport officials[8].
8. Daily Mirror’s report on the SriLankan Airlines flight diversion to Medan and Indonesian aviation technicians’ response[9].
9. Antara News article describing the Batik Air crosswind incident at Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport and comments from the airline’s communications officer[10].