It was raining in the area at the time.[27] The first report of a plane crash in the Thousand Islands was made at 14:30 local time, in which a fisherman stated that a plane had crashed and exploded in the sea.[28] At around 16:00 local time, eyewitnesses coordinated with firefighters to search for the aircraft.[27] The regent of the Thousand Islands, Junaedi, also reported that something fell and exploded on Laki Island.[29]