Pelita Air Plane Crash in North Kalimantan Claims Pilot’s Life
A Pelita Air Service Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft crashed near Long Bawan Airport in North Kalimantan, Indonesia, on Thursday, February 19, 2026, resulting in the death of the pilot, Captain Hendrick Lodewyck Adam, 54. The airline confirmed the plane was airworthy prior to the accident.
Details of the Flight and Crash
The aircraft, registered as PK-PAA, was conducting a routine fuel distribution mission as part of the One Price BBM program. According to Pelita Air, the flight departed from Juwata Tarakan Airport at 10:22 a.m. Local time and landed safely at Long Bawan Airport at 11:24 a.m. Local time, carrying a cargo of fuel . After unloading, the plane took off again for Tarakan at 12:10 p.m. Local time.
At 12:30 p.m. Local time, Pelita Air’s Jakarta headquarters received reports of the crash, which occurred a short distance from Long Bawan Airport . A search operation involving Pelita Air, the Tarakan Air Force Base, Basarnas (Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency), and local communities located the wreckage at 1:25 p.m. Local time . Captain Adam was evacuated and pronounced dead at 2:33 p.m. Local time, with his body arriving at Pratama Long Bawan Hospital at 3:20 p.m. Local time .
Aircraft Maintenance and History
Pelita Air Corporate Secretary, Patria Rhamadonna, stated that the 2013-manufactured aircraft had undergone routine maintenance on February 15, 2026, and was fully airworthy . The pilot had been with the company since July 2021 and had accumulated over 8,000 flight hours .
Investigation Underway
Pelita Air is coordinating with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation and will send a joint team with the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) to Long Bawan on February 20, 2026, to investigate the cause of the crash . The company has pledged to provide full assistance to the pilot’s family and ensure they receive all due rights and compensation .
Aircraft Details
The aircraft involved was an Air Tractor AT-802, manufactured in 2013 with serial number 802-0494 . The plane was carrying Pertamina fuel when it crashed while en route from Long Bawan to Tarakan . An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received by Tarakan Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) at 12:20 WITA .