Merpati Nustantara Airlines Flight 5601 was a scheduled domestic flight from Jakarta to Ujung Pandang. On the fateful day, the aircraft was impacted by severe weather conditions as it approached its destination. While attempting to navigate through the challenging landscape of West Java, it collided with the rugged terrain of Mount Papandayan, a known volcanic region. The aircraft was a twin-engine Fokker F28 Fellowship, which had specific operational limitations in adverse weather that ultimately contributed to the crash. There were 31 people aboard, including passengers and crew members, all of whom perished in the incident. Rescue operations were hampered by the location's remote and mountainous terrain, indicating the challenges faced by emergency responders.The tragedy led to significant scrutiny regarding flight safety regulations within Indonesia, prompting enhancements in training protocols and operational guidelines for airlines operating in similar conditions. Airlines began to reassess their flight planning strategies, particularly concerning weather monitoring and decision-making during adverse weather events. This crash highlighted the risks of flying in Indonesia's diverse terrain, which poses unique challenges for airborne transportation in the region. Consequently, it served as a catalyst for broader discussions on aviation safety within Southeast Asia's burgeoning airline industry, especially as air travel continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1990s.