Garuda Indonesia flight GA176, a Boeing 737-8U3(WL) operating from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta to Pekanbaru on 7 March 2026, was found after landing to have sustained damage to the left side of its radome. The aircraft involved, PK-GFF, is a 2010-built 737-800 powered by CFM56-7B engines. Because the damage was only discovered on the ground after arrival at Pekanbaru Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport, the event appears to have unfolded without an in-flight emergency declaration, and there were no reported injuries or fatalities.
The incident was classified as involving minor aircraft damage. However, radome damage can still draw attention because the structure protects the weather radar housed in the nose section and can be affected by factors ranging from bird strikes and hail to ground handling and foreign-object contact. Based on the information currently available, the aircraft completed the scheduled passenger service before the damage was identified, suggesting the issue did not immediately compromise the flight’s safe completion. As the current reporting is based only on news, social media, or other unofficial sources, the exact cause and timing of the damage remain unconfirmed pending any further operator or investigative update.
Images: detik