June 3, 2026 | 05:40 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) Headquarters spokesperson I Nyoman Suadnyana confirmed that the aircraft was a Lockheed C-130T Hercules belonging to the United States Navy. The aircraft was reportedly conducting a test flight on June 1, 2026, after previously making an emergency landing at Minangkabau International Airport (BIM), Padang, West Sumatra, on May 25, 2026.Nyoman explained that the aircraft was initially flying from Malaysia to a U.S. military base in Diego Garcia. However, the aircraft experienced engine trouble during the journey and had to divert to the nearest airport for an emergency landing. "There was an issue with engine number three, so it had to land at the nearest airport, which was BIM, Padang," Nyoman said when contacted on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.He emphasized that the landing was carried out in accordance with procedures and no aviation regulations were violated. The aircraft also possessed all necessary documents and permits. "So there were no violations, everything was in accordance with procedures," he stated.Nyoman also assured that the passage of U.S. military aircraft through Indonesian airspace was not motivated by any other agenda. He mentioned that all crew members had undergone security checks by airport personnel upon landing. "The personnel conducted thorough inspections. It was purely due to engine trouble," he said.The aircraft is currently in Padang, undergoing repairs, including the replacement of damaged engine components. As the spare parts need to be sourced from abroad, the repair will take some time before the aircraft can resume its flight.The aircraft is scheduled to take off again on Thursday, June 4, 2026. "It will fly again tomorrow," Nyoman stated.Read: Four TNI Officers Face 2.5-Year Prison Terms Over Acid Attack CaseClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
