Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia's search and rescue agency (Basarnas) has stated that it officially ended its efforts to recover more remains of Sriwijaya Air plane SJ182 almost two weeks after the commercial aircraft crashed into Java Sea on January 9, 2021.

The agency’s head, Bagus Puruhito, made the announcement at the Tanjung Priok seaport, Jakarta at 4.57 p.m local time.

According to him, the termination of the search operation was made based on technical evaluation, and victim findings as well as meetings with victims’ families and interrelated institutions.

So far, rescuers have retrieved as many as 324 body bags containing human remains; a total of 68 bags comprising aircraft small pieces of debris; 55 large parts of debris; one Flight Data Recorder (FDR); and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) electric unit have been evacuated.

Meanwhile, as many as 43 victims have been identified by authorities as of Thursday afternoon (Jan. 21).

Despite the decision to cease the operation, Bagus said his team will still respond and follow up reports from people who may see or find alleged victims.

Prior to its termination, the search operation was extended for three days twice, involving more than 4,300 personnel, 62 ships and 15 planes.

The SJ182 plane, a Boeing 737-500 aircraft, was carrying 62 people when it disappeared from the radar screens minutes after taking off from Jakarta to Pontianak in West Kalimantan province.

Reporting by Indonesia Window