September 10, 2026 | 04:16 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed the Dauphin AS365 N3+ helicopter, registration number HR-3604, to search for a group of journalists missing in the Sunda Strait waters, Pandeglang Regency, Banten. The helicopter took off from Atang Sendjaja Airfield at 12:36 p.m. local time and is scheduled to arrive at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran in Central Jakarta at 12:52 p.m."The flight route includes JIExpo Kemayoran - Carita Beach - Banten Provincial Disaster Management Agency - Helipad/JIExpo Kemayoran," said the Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, in a written statement on Thursday, September 10, 2026.According to Amrad, the helicopter is carrying seven officers, namely Flight Lieutenant Endrik Setyo Utomo, Flight Captain Dimas Aribowo, Chief Sergeant Deatry Mulianto, Sergeant Moch Farhan, Second Sergeant Eki P. Ginting, Private First Class Ronni Bagus H., and Private Second Class Brillian Muammar.Deploying the helicopter is an additional effort to search for the group of journalists by air. On the third day of the search, Basarnas expanded it, particularly by surveilling the operating areas around the waters of the Sunda Strait and Mount Anak Krakatau."Basarnas, along with all elements of the Joint SAR Team, continues to optimize various search facilities and methods to locate the eight people who are still missing," he said.The group of journalists, consisting of five reporters, two crew members, and one guide, lost contact while attempting to cover the erupting Anak Krakatau Volcano. The group departed from Pagedongan Pier, Carita, on Monday afternoon, September 7, 2026, to cover the activities of Mount Anak Krakatau.The group departed at around 14:00 aboard a speedboat captained by Warta and crewed by Surakman. A guide named Heriyanto accompanied them. The five journalists aboard were M. Bagus Khoirunnas from Antara, Ari Basuki from Merdeka, Yudhis from iNews, Daus from Anadolu, and Donal, who is a freelance journalist.The Head of the Public Relations Division of the Banten Regional Police, Commissioner Maruli Ahiles Hutapea, said the last communication was recorded at 14:42 when one of the group members sent their last known location to their colleague."Around 15:04 WIB (Western Indonesia Time), communication with the group of journalists could no longer be established," said Maruli on Tuesday evening, September 8, 2026.Read: Palace: Prabowo Ordered 11 Navy Vessels to Search for Missing JournalistsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
