JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Spokesperson of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) Vice Air Marshal Dwi Badarmanto confirmed that the crash of the Air Force’s Hercules C-130 cargo aircraft in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday (June 30) afternoon has killed 113 people on board.
According to Dwi, the 113 people died in the crash are 101 passengers and 12 crews. The remains of the death victims have reportedly been brought to the Adam Malik General Hospital (RSUP) in the capital city of North Sumatra.
As reported earlier, the Air Force’s Hercules C-130 cargo aircraft crashed into residential areas near Polonia Airport in Medan, shortly after taking off from said airport. The aircraft was actually to fly to its destination to Tanjung Pinang Air Force base in Riau Islands.
Spokesperson of the Indonesian military Maj. Gen. Fuad Basya earlier revealed that the Commander of the military General Moeldoko has ordered the Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) to launch investigation.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, meanwhile, has sent his sincere condolences to the families of the death victims. President Jokowi has ordered all related parties to evacuate the victims and body of the acrashed aircraft. The President also revealed his plan to soon rejuvenate the military’s primary weaponry defense system (Alutsista). (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)