Summary
In September 2011, residents of Tanah Kusir, a neighbourhood in South Jakarta, reported an unsettling sight: a white-shrouded figure apparently flying between houses in the darkness. The apparition resembled a pocong, a spirit from Indonesian folklore traditionally depicted as a corpse wrapped in its burial cloth. Witnesses claimed the figure appeared on several nights, sometimes vanishing when residents attempted to pursue it. The sightings caused such concern that neighbours began keeping watch after dark. Local newspapers documented the growing excitement, while some residents recalled similar stories from years earlier. What was moving above the rooftops of Tanah Kusir remained unexplained.
Additional Notes
In early September 2011, an unusual rumour began spreading through Tanah Kusir II, a residential neighbourhood in South Jakarta. Residents claimed that a strange white figure had been seen moving through the night, passing above houses before disappearing without a trace. The figure was described as a *pocong*, one of Indonesia's most recognisable supernatural beings. In traditional stories, a pocong is the spirit of a deceased person still wrapped in the white burial shroud used in Muslim funeral customs. Because the cloth is tied around the body, the apparition is often portrayed as moving by hopping rather than walking. The Tanah Kusir reports, however, described something even more unusual: a pocong that could fly. According to contemporary newspaper reports, sightings occurred on at least two occasions during the first half of September. Residents described the mysterious figure moving between houses, while attempts to follow it reportedly ended when the apparition suddenly disappeared. One particularly disturbing account concerned a teenager named Ibnu, who was returning home late at night with friends. Near a neighbourhood badminton court, he reportedly saw a pocong-like figure moving through the air. Frightened, he shouted and fled. His companions and nearby residents heard the commotion, although accounts differed over how many people had actually seen the figure. Another reported sighting involved a local resident named Ubaidilah, who was said to have observed a white figure travelling above neighbouring rooftops. The story quickly spread through the community, encouraging residents to watch the streets and rooftops after dark. The atmosphere became so tense that neighbours organised nighttime patrols. Some hoped to protect the area, while others were determined to catch a glimpse of the mysterious visitor. One resident told journalists that the figure repeatedly seemed to disappear near an open field. The reports attracted the attention of Indonesian news outlets. On September 12, 2011, *detikNews* published several articles about the sightings and the reactions of local residents. A neighbourhood official, Iskandar, acknowledged that stories about flying pocong figures had circulated in the area before. He also noted that regular neighbourhood security patrols were not solely a response to the ghost rumours. The location added to the story's unsettling reputation. Tanah Kusir is associated with one of Jakarta's major public cemeteries, although the residential area where the sightings were reported lies approximately one kilometre from the burial ground. Residents offered different interpretations. Some believed the figure was a wandering spirit, while others suggested it might be a living person practising supernatural powers. Such explanations reflect local beliefs rather than independently established facts. Not everyone was convinced. Sociologist Musni Umar suggested that the sightings could be rumours spread to frighten the community and called for reassurance from local authorities. No verified photographs, physical traces or independently confirmed identification of the flying figure emerged from the reports examined. The Tanah Kusir incident illustrates how a traditional supernatural figure can become the centre of a modern urban mystery. Unlike older pocong legends passed down through generations, these reports were documented by journalists while the neighbourhood was still discussing the alleged appearances. Whether residents witnessed a misidentified object, encountered a deliberate hoax or became caught up in a rapidly spreading rumour remains unknown. What is certain is that, for several nights in September 2011, the possibility of a flying, shroud-wrapped visitor was enough to keep part of Tanah Kusir awake long after dark.
The Location Today
Tanah Kusir II remains a residential area in Kebayoran Lama Selatan, South Jakarta. The reported sightings were associated with neighbourhood streets, houses and an open area used by residents. The nearby Tanah Kusir public cemetery is an important geographical reference, but the newspaper reports do not establish that the alleged flying figure originated there. No confirmed apparition site or preserved physical evidence is known.
- Environment
- Urban Area, Residential Area
- Time of Day
- Late Night / Early Morning
- Evidence Level
- Newspaper Report
- Visiting the Location
- Limited
- Ownership of the Location
- Mixed