The incident occurred this morning at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Maros town, South Sulawesi province, Indonesia.
A video posted on social media showed the Su-30 fighter jet nose-down on a slope at the end of runway 13, relatively close to the airport's surrounding steel fence. Some soldiers were attempting to extinguish a fire that had erupted in the grass around the aircraft's tail.
Su-30 fighter jet at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Indonesia on 24/8. Video: X/Jatosint, Clash Report
The Su-30's tail cone was open, indicating the crew deployed the drogue parachute but could not stop the aircraft on the runway. The cockpit canopy remained intact and in a normally open position, a sign that the two pilots exited without needing to eject.
The incident occurred near the main Maros-Makassar road, causing many onlookers to stop and observe the aircraft, leading to traffic congestion. According to the Jakarta Globe newspaper, Indonesian police and air force deployed forces to secure the scene and manage traffic. White tarpaulins were erected along the fence to block the view of passersby.
"We confirm the incident occurred on runway 13 at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport. Recovery efforts are underway", said Taufan Yudhistira, a representative of the airport's operating unit. The incident did not disrupt flight operations. Flights at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport continued normally on runway 03-21.
The cause of the incident and the specific extent of the damage are not yet known. The Indonesian Air Force has not issued a comment.
The Su-30 is a heavy multirole fighter developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the late 1980s, based on the Su-27UB combat trainer aircraft.
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Su-30 fighter jet after the incident at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Indonesia on 24/8. Photo: *Jakarta Globe*
The Indonesian Air Force currently operates a heavy fighter fleet comprising 11 Su-30MK2 and 5 Su-27SK/SKM fighter jets, serving as the primary force in long-range combat operations.
Each Su-30MK2 has a length of 21,9 m, a height of 6,4 m, a wingspan of 14,7 m, a maximum takeoff weight of 34,5 tons, and is equipped with two Saturn AL-31F turbofan engines with a total thrust of 25.085 kgf, reaching a maximum speed of 2.120 km/h. The aircraft can carry up to 8 tons of weapons, mounted on 12 pylons under the wings and fuselage.
Pham Giang (According to Jakarta Globe, TASS, Militarnyi)
