Garuda Indonesia Plane Damaged After Jakarta-Pekanbaru Flight | Passengers Shocked

PEKANBARU – A Garuda Indonesia aircraft sustained significant damage to its nose cone after landing in Pekanbaru on Saturday, March 7, 2026, prompting a flight cancellation and passenger re-routing. The incident, which occurred on flight GA176 from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, has raised questions about potential causes, though initial investigations point to a possible foreign object impact.

Passengers reported being shocked by the extent of the damage, describing a substantial dent and paint peeling on the aircraft’s front section. “My fellow passengers and I noticed the damage to the nose of the plane after landing. We were surprised and, frankly, shocked, but thankfully everyone was safe,” said passenger Rizki Ganda Sitinjak, 29.

According to reports, there were no unusual sounds during the flight itself, although the aircraft experienced some turbulence shortly before landing as it approached the airport through dark clouds. “Before landing, there was a dark cloud and the plane experienced turbulence, but there wasn’t a loud impact sound. We were shocked to see the damage when we exited the plane,” Ganda added.

Bandara Sultan Syarif Kasim II (SSK II) General Manager Achmad confirmed the incident, stating that the damage was observed at 5:15 p.m. Local time. “The damage is to the radome, the left side of the aircraft’s nose. A visual inspection by technicians and crew revealed significant damage to the radome,” Achmad said in a statement.

The airline has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the damage, with initial speculation centering on a possible collision with a foreign object, known as Foreign Object Damage (FOD). Authorities have not yet ruled out the possibility of a bird strike or other technical factors. The incident underscores the potential risks associated with air travel and the importance of rigorous aircraft maintenance protocols.

As a result of the damage, the return flight to Jakarta was cancelled, impacting approximately 30 passengers. Garuda Indonesia re-accommodated those passengers on a Citilink flight from Pekanbaru to Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, which departed at 7:12 p.m. Local time.