On Monday, August 24, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, a Su-30MK2 multirole combat aircraft (NATO reporting name: Flanker-C) operated by the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara, TNI-AU) was involved in an accident at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi. According to video footage released after the incident, the aircraft ran off Runway 13.
Photo: NaidNdeso via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Lt. Col. Sus Yudha Pramono, spokesperson for the military section of the airport, Lanud Sultan Hasanuddin, confirmed the incident and said that authorities were still awaiting a report with further details. The airport operator stated that flight operations were continuing normally using Runway 03/21.
It was later reported that the accident occurred after the aircraft had completed a general overhaul. Following a test flight, the braking system reportedly failed, causing the aircraft to run off the runway and come to a stop approximately 30 m beyond it. The crew was not injured, and the aircraft was towed to a hangar for a technical inspection.
Russian-origin combat aircraft in Indonesian service are expected to be gradually withdrawn due to difficulties in maintaining operational readiness and the international situation, including sanctions imposed on Russia. Indonesia operates five single-seat Su-27SK/SKM air-superiority fighters, including two Su-27SKs and three Su-27SKMs, as well as eleven two-seat Su-30MK/MK2 multirole combat aircraft, including two Su-30MKs and nine Su-30MK2s. The latter is a modified version of the former that entered serial production in 1999.
Deliveries of Sukhoi aircraft to Indonesia took place between 2003 and 2013. In 2003, the country received its first two Su-27SKs and two Su-30MKs under a contract signed that same year worth approximately USD 193 million, partly settled through barter, including palm oil. Between 2007 and 2010, another three Su-27SKMs and three Su-30MK2s were delivered, while the final six Su-30MK2s arrived between 2011 and 2013.
The aircraft are operated by 11 Squadron (Skadron Udara 11) at the aforementioned Sultan Hasanuddin base. They are tasked with protecting the airspace over the eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago and conducting maritime operations. Most recently, on July 7 this year, Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding with India concerning the supply of Astra Mk1 air-to-air missiles, most likely for these aircraft, as the missile has already been integrated with India’s Su-30MKI.
Indonesian Air Force Sukhoi Jet Runs Off Runway at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport
A Sukhoi SU-30 fighter operated by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) experienced a runway excursion/overrun at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG), Makassar, at around 11:00 WITA on Monday,… pic.twitter.com/YCOXP1RfSJ
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) August 24, 2026
Videos from different angles show the incident caused a small grass fire (likely sparked by hot engine exhaust rather than the plane itself catching fire)https://t.co/g9WauFrUON
— JATOSINT (@Jatosint) August 24, 2026
Currently, the Indonesian Air Force is undergoing a major transformation, while the government in Jakarta is pursuing a policy of maximum diversification of suppliers. In addition to the Sukhois, US-made Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons remain in service, including 23 F-16C/D Block 52RI aircraft and 10 F-16A Block 15 OCU aircraft.
Indonesia has ordered 42 French Dassault Rafale F4 multirole combat aircraft, of which the first six have already been delivered. It has also placed an order for 48 Turkish TAI TF Kaan aircraft and declared its intention to acquire up to 48 South Korean KAI KF-21 Boramae fighters. In addition, press reports indicate that the authorities are interested in purchasing Chinese Chengdu J-10CE aircraft, while in February this year it was revealed that Indonesia had rejected a US offer for 24 Boeing F-15IDN aircraft, the local designation for the F-15EX Eagle II.
Interestingly, Indonesia also considered purchasing nine used single-seat Mirage 2000-5EDA combat aircraft and three two-seat Mirage 2000-5DDA combat trainers being retired by the Qatar Emiri Air Force, but ultimately abandoned the plan, which had been intended as a stopgap solution. Earlier, a Lockheed Martin offer for F-16C/D Block 72 aircraft had also been considered after Indonesia withdrew from the already ordered 11 Russian Su-35S, as well as a proposal to acquire 15 used Austrian Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 aircraft, although the latter triggered a political controversy in the country.
The fleet is supplemented by light attack aircraft: 13 South Korean KAI T-50i aircraft, with six more on order, 13 Brazilian Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos, and 29 British BAE Hawk 209s. Most recently, 16 obsolete Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fighters were retired, only a few of which were reportedly still capable of flight.
