Iswahyudi
The quality of a leader is tested when moments of crisis arise. The strength of belief and submission to a higher entity, God, often becomes evident when one is faced with life-and-death situations. In times of crisis, unwavering faith, total surrender to God, and extraordinary efforts frequently lead to miracles. Today, the entire world is grappling with severe turbulence due to the pandemic and wars in various parts of the globe. Most world leaders are facing a crisis that could potentially bring their nations to ruin. This pandemic crisis spares no one, whether it be a developed or developing nation; all feel the deadly impact. How should a leader face a crisis? Should they draw closer to God, ultimately ensuring safety, or should they become more arrogant, stubborn, and presumptuous, risking a fate similar to the prideful Titanic that sank?
The story of Garuda Indonesia Airlines pilot Captain Abdur Rozaq serves as a valuable lesson for leaders confronting moments of crisis or existential threats. He conveys an implicit message that God can assist when everything is beyond control, emphasizing the importance of drawing near to God and self-improvement. Rozaq managed to escape death and save hundreds of passengers.
In the aviation world, facing cumulonimbus clouds can be interpreted as a crisis or a life-and-death moment for a pilot. Cumulonimbus clouds are dreaded by pilots as they can cause severe turbulence. Hence, it is not surprising that these clouds, commonly known as CB clouds, are feared by many aviators.
Numerous aviation accidents have been caused by CB clouds, such as the AirAsia QZ8501 incident in the Karimata Strait on December 29, 2014. Pilot Irianto, who flew QZ8501, fell victim to these clouds. However, facing CB clouds does not necessarily mean a death sentence. Many pilots have successfully survived the severity of these clouds, including Senior Pilot of Garuda Indonesia Airlines, Captain Abdul Rozaq.
In an interview on a national private television station on Sunday, January 4, 2015, Captain Abdul Rozaq admitted to witnessing the power of CB clouds. The Garuda Indonesia plane he was piloting became trapped in CB clouds. Abdul Rozaq's story is also recounted in the book "ESQ Way" by motivator Ary Ginanjar Agustian.
On January 16, 2002, Captain Abdul Rozaq piloted a Boeing 737-300 with flight number GA 421 from Selaparang Airport, Lombok, to Adi Sucipto International Airport, Yogyakarta. The weather was friendly, and the plane had reached an altitude of 31,000 feet. Over Blora City, Central Java, Indonesia, the plane suddenly entered a cumulonimbus cloud. This was the only option for the pilot – there was no alternative but to penetrate the cloud.
A few moments later, both engines of the plane shut down at 23,000 feet. Following flight procedures, the pilot had to quickly restart the engines by turning on the generator. However, there was damage to the electrical power. All engines were out. "Astaghfirullah, Captain, both engines are out. What should we do?" Abdul Rozaq recalled, mimicking the panic of co-pilot Haryadi Gunawan. He immediately performed wind milling, turning the engine propellers using airflow. "It's like pushing a stalled car by gliding the plane downward," he said.
Unfortunately, the effort proved futile. The electricity was out, leaving the inside of the plane in darkness. Meanwhile, the plane continued to descend from 23,000 feet to 8,000 feet.
In Abdul Rozaq's mind, the fate of hundreds of passengers behind the cockpit, unaware of what was happening, was imagined. He began to panic. Despite executing all efforts and flight procedures, there was no clarity. The co-pilot sent a distress signal, "Mayday...mayday!" repeatedly, but there was no response. "I said, it's useless because all equipment is dead. The radio is also dead," Rozak explained.
The situation became more critical. The plane was tossed within the thick cumulonimbus cloud. "At that moment, I shouted Allahu Akbar..., Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar," said the Zurich DC-9 training graduate. Suddenly, the plane emerged from the cloud, allowing him a clear view of everything in front of him. Rozak had to make a quick and precise decision – "Should I land in the flat-looking field or land in the Bengawan Solo River with a bridge in front of it?" If the decision was wrong, it could have fatal consequences, resulting in his death and possibly that of all passengers. At this crucial moment, Abdul Rozak had a brief discussion and argument with the co-pilot, ultimately making the dramatic decision to make an emergency landing in the river, turning the deep Bengawan Solo River into a runway.
"I decided on the river. I thought the risk would be greater in the field because there are open fields that could scrape the body of the plane and cause a fire," said the man who sold vegetables after graduating from STM in 1976.
Abdul Rozaq descended the plane and approached the "runway." Surprisingly, there was an iron bridge spanning the river. He had to turn back to land the plane over the bridge. Without engine thrust, the plane glided. "I didn't close my eyes at that moment," he said. After passing the bridge with the engines off and no thrust, the plane landed successfully. However, still sliding, not far ahead, there was another concrete bridge that posed a threat. Unexpectedly, before reaching the bridge, the plane hit a rock, tearing its rear part and causing the plane to suddenly turn to the right, into a shallower area, avoiding the bridge. At that moment, one of the flight attendants was sucked out and died due to the hole created by the large rock. However, it was unimaginable that if the plane had continued to slide without turning right, it might have hit the bridge and sunk into the legendary Bengawan Solo River.
The plane finally stopped safely on the right side of the riverbank. The water around it was approximately 10 meters deep. All passengers could exit through the plane door safely. Despite the strong air pressure in the cabin, it could be opened quickly due to the hole created by the collision with the large rock. A miracle happened – all passengers were saved. Near the scene, there was an empty house and a car, allowing passengers to be evacuated promptly. "It was the place chosen by Allah for us. The people of Serenan Village were very responsive and willingly helped. Not a single passenger's belonging was lost," said the recipient of the American Medal of Honor from the American Biographical Institute, North Carolina, USA.
Rozaq documented this phenomenal experience in the book "Miracle of Flight." He always uses this life-and-death moment as a reminder that God, the Savior, is always present during a crisis. In a framed photo at his residence, covered by detik.com on January 19, 2015, there is a steering wheel, pilot's headphones, a mobile phone he used to communicate with the office shortly after the emergency landing, and two photos of the GA 421 plane landing in the Bengawan Solo River.
"That's the GA421 aircraft steering wheel, a gift from Garuda. The phone was the one I used for communication with the office shortly after the emergency landing," he explained.
In the frame's background, there is a silver metal plate with black writing: "I have nothing to say except to prostrate in gratitude as a thank you, Allah. You are so Great; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth with limitless power, love, and greatness that You have shown to me and all Your people through the ordeal I experienced with Garuda GA 421. Now I am convinced that You are always present when I firmly hold on to the strong belief that there is no God but You. Forgive me, Allah. I am incapable without Your strength. I cannot see without Your help. I cannot walk without Your mercy. May You forgive us. January 16, 2002."
Saved from the Palu Earthquake
The earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction that struck Palu City in Sulawesi, Indonesia, at the end of September 2018, left buildings and all existing infrastructure in ruins. In this disaster, Captain Pilot Abdul Rozaq became a living witness to the deadly moments of the catastrophe.
"I landed in Palu during the day and was going to fly again the next day," said Captain Pilot Abdul Rozaq. Around 5:50 PM local time on Friday, September 28, 2018, Rozaq was having dinner in his room on the fifth floor when a powerful tremor occurred, causing his plate to fall. Abdul Rozaq immediately sought shelter under the table in his hotel room. After the shaking subsided, he immediately searched for an evacuation route out of the room. However, upon exiting, there was no access to descend from the fifth floor of the hotel.
"I tried to find the emergency door, but it couldn't open anymore because it was damaged. Then I met four other people who also wanted to save themselves. One of them was the wife of the Deputy Regent of Sorowako. Since there was no way out, we saw a hydrant hose and used it to exit through the window, but the tsunami current was very strong and high below, reaching the second floor of the hotel. Finally, we decided to evacuate after the tsunami receded," he explained.
After successfully saving himself from the fifth floor, the 62-year-old Senior Pilot tried to save another 10 people on the fourth floor, one of whom was a 9-month-old baby. The next day, Saturday, September 29, 2018, Abdul Rozaq, along with other victims, was evacuated using an Air Force Hercules plane around 1:00 PM local time, leaving Palu City for Makassar. The runway at Palu City Airport cracked about 300 meters and could not accommodate Boeing-type aircraft.
"Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), I am very grateful after 16 years ago, Allah gave me a trial. This time, I couldn't imagine that something like this would happen, seeing people begging for help and then disappearing with the very strong tsunami current. Hopefully, this incident can strengthen our faith in the Creator, Allah SWT," he said.