Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 173; Flight Crew Total 12942; Flight Crew Type 457
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure
On arrival we were assigned 3;000 feet. 4 crew members heard the same instructions. ATC delayed our turn from downwind to base to final. I configured accordingly in anticipation of a short approach. At some point; we received a terrain warning. I immediately turned right and climbed as I deemed appropriate; ATC never assigned a heading and simply advised us that we should be at 3;800 feet. We kept asking for a heading and approach clearance at that point. He seemed a bit confused and I believe he forgot about us and never monitored our position on final. We had a stable final approach and landing. I called the tower to address the approach controllers clearance and they said it was normal and it was not an issue; of course this is what's I heard; a lack of communication and a different English dialect may have been a distinct factor in this event.
On the Pokon 2A arrival. Assigned direct to EMROS and 3;000 [feet]. All 4 confirmed assigned 3;000 [feet]. Weather was VFR; smoke; and twilight. On extended downwind leg; terrain was approaching to east. Pilot Monitoring asked about approach clearance or turn and simultaneously we got a GPWS terrain warning ahead. Pilot Flying initiated a right turn and climb. ATC then advised a climb to 3;800 feet. We climb and asked for a heading. Finally received a heading of 310 and clearance for ILS; made a stable approach and landing. We asked ATC upon landing and they said it was a normal approach and not unusual. Language barrier was present.
Flight crew reported a terrain alert due to ATC communications failure; resulted in taking evasive action.