First A380 landing in Jakarta, Indonesia. 4-May-2012

I was shocked to suddenly see this on my Twitter, Facebook, local forums, etc.

The A380 has landed in Jakarta 

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (WIII/CGK)

9V-SKC in CGK

Quick calls and searches, found the story to be true.

9V-SKC was performing Singapore Airlines flight SQ232 from Sydney to Singapore when a passenger became ill, requiring a medical diversion. The aircraft landed at CGK at 0846UTC at runway 25R, and parked at taxiway WC1 between NP2 and NPW, where the passenger was evacuated. Aircraft then made a U-turn at NPW onto WC2 for NP2 and N6, where it departed runway 07L safely at 0930UTC to continue to Singapore (revised estimated arrival currently at 1130UTC).

This friend of mine was very happy to see the A380 in Jakarta
(photo by: Ignatius Suryadi)

Aircraft parked at WC1 instead of a parking stand so that it does not require pushing back to continue. However, A380 capable pushback trucks and towbar are available at the airport, to provide ground handling capability for diversions requiring a parking stand. In this occasion, a scissor lift truck (like the ones for catering) performed the passenger evacuation.

Use this chart to find where the aircraft landed, parked, and took off.
(Chart by: Gerry Soejatman)

Whilst the aircraft can be serviced at Jakarta and suitable parking spots exist for the A380, no regular A380 schedules has been made due to lack of boarding gate space capability at Terminal 2D and 2E (international terminals), and apart from the remote parking areas, only parking stand D11 (gate D1) is A380 capable  in terms of size.

Dreamers within the Indonesian aviation community have long awaited the arrival of the A380 in Indonesia. Many cite reasons as ridiculous as "airport runways cannot handle the A380" to "everyone should fly the A380 to Jakarta"... but I'm sure a lot are shocked to see the A380 finally land in Jakarta.

Unfortunately, the ill passenger had passed away. Ironically, he was an Indonesian who was likely to be flying SYD-SIN-CGK anyways. It's bittersweet congratulations to 9V-SKC as the first A380 to ever land in Indonesia. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts, it's not always a happy ending. To the wife of the ill passenger (who was travelling with him) and his family, my condolences.


Edit 1200UTC:
Pax heart attack reported over Bali, Jakarta was nearest suitable airport from Bali for the A380.