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EHang Holdings Limited announced that its pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft EH216-S successfully completed its first pilotless human-carrying flights in Indonesia.
This landmark flight marks a significant milestone in EHang’s global strategy and establishes a solid foundation for advancing the development of urban air mobility in Indonesia.
With the support of the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), EHang’s Indonesian client, Prestige Aviation, obtained flight permission from the DGCA to conduct this milestone demonstration.
Rudy Salim, executive chairman of Prestige Aviation; Raffi Ahmad, the Indonesian president’s special envoy; and other passengers boarded the EH216-S. The event was witnessed by high-level dignitaries, including Bambang Soesatyo, former chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly of Indonesia; Sokhib Al Rokhman, director of the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations (DKPPU); and Conor Yang, chief financial officer of EHang. Also in attendance were senior executives from major Indonesian aviation enterprises, business leaders, and international media.
“The presence of EHang in Indonesia not only demonstrates the country’s readiness to enter the era of pilotless air mobility, but also opens up significant opportunities for the domestic automotive and aviation industries to innovate and collaborate,” said Bambang Soesatyo.
“We warmly welcome the emergence of new technologies in the aviation sector, including innovations such as human-carrying pilotless aircraft like EHang’s eVTOL,” said Sokhib Al Rokhman. “We sincerely hope the government will provide tangible support and foster synergy to advance the future aviation technology ecosystem.”
It is hoped that this technology can provide a more environmentally friendly air transportation solution and help reduce congestion in major cities in Indonesia,” said Raffi Ahmad. “Furthermore, I encourage Indonesia’s young generation to actively participate in advancing smart mobility and technology, and to learn, adapt, and collaborate with technology-creating nations.”
The EH216-S features vertical takeoff and landing capabilities that eliminate the need for traditional airport runways, enabling point-to-point transportation within dense urban centers, an effective solution to Indonesia’s severe ground traffic congestion. As the “Land of a Thousand Islands,” Indonesia offers immense potential for aerial connectivity across its archipelago. The EH216-S is poised to deliver fast, safe, and efficient inter-island transportation and tourism services, reshaping regional travel experiences.
EHang’s connection with Indonesia dates back to November 2021, when it conducted the country’s first pilotless eVTOL flight at Villa Blackstone Beach in Bali, a renowned tourist destination.
Since obtaining the world’s first air operator certificate (OC) for civil human-carrying pilotless eVTOL aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in March 2025, EHang has closely collaborated with its local client and partners in Indonesia to explore application scenarios and commercial operation models.
The debut human-carrying flights of the EH216-S in Indonesia reflect the seamless integration of EHang’s advanced air mobility solutions into the local aviation ecosystem.
As the world’s first — and so far only — pilotless human-carrying eVTOL to obtain all the required certifications from the CAAC, and the world’s first commercially available pilotless eVTOL, EHang has promoted UAM demonstration projects in multiple countries and cities globally. These experiences provide valuable references for Indonesia’s low-altitude economic development.
“Indonesia thus ushers in a new chapter in its transportation development history,” said Rudy Salim. “This innovation represents Indonesia’s major leap toward a future of safe, eco-friendly, and efficient air mobility. The innovation of the EH216-S is not only a symbol of technological progress but also a call to action for Indonesia’s youth and industry leaders to innovate and create solutions tailored to national needs.”
“This milestone flight in Indonesia is a key step in advancing our global strategy following the OC certification in China,” said Conor Yang.
“It lays a strong foundation for accelerating commercial eVTOL operations worldwide. We believe this technology can help alleviate Indonesia’s traffic congestion while offering effective solutions in tourism, sightseeing, and emergency rescue. Looking ahead, we look forward to working closely with Indonesian regulators, clients, and partners to explore UAM development models suited to local needs, promote local certifications, and leverage EHang’s proven expertise in scalable, standardized, and commercial eVTOL operations to build a robust UAM ecosystem in Indonesia.”