Lion Air JT-610 Crashes into Java Sea, Transportation Minister Confirms

Transportation Minister Budi K. Sumadi accompanied by Head of Basarnas M. Syaugi and Head of KNKT Soerjanto Tjahjono delivers a press statement, at Crisis Center, Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Monday (29/10). (Photo by: Agung/ PR Division)

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi has confirmed that Lion Air flight JT-610 serving Jakarta- Pangkal Pinang route that was previously reported lost contact with authorities on Monday morning (29/10) had crashed into the Java Sea near the north coast of Bekasi, West Java.

“We had coordinated with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and the Agency confirmed that the plane crashed into the Java Sea near the north coast of Bekasi after lost contact at 06.32 a.m. Western Indonesian Time,” the Minister said at Crisis Center, Terminal 1B of the Soekarno Hatta International Airport, on Monday (29/10).

According to the Minister, the JT-610 plane carried 189 people on board, including 181 passengers, and 8 crews. The plane, with registration number PK-LQP, was made in 2018 and delivered to Lion Air in August 2018.

“The JT-610 is a new plane which was operated by Boeing 737-800 Max in August 2018 with only 800 flight hours,” the Minister said.

After finding some indications during the searching of JT-610 plane, the search team will try to get black boxes, wings, bodies, and other parts of the plane.

For families of the victims, Crisis Center is opened at Terminal 1, Soekarno Hatta International Airport. “If they have to visit hospitals, the airport operator Angkasa Pura II will facilitate them,” he added.

According to the Minister, Lion Air, Angkasa Pura II, and Basarnas will provide updates of the searching.

“We will concentrate on the searching. Together with families of the victims, we also support the measures taken by Basarnas and the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT),” the Minister concluded. (GUN/Humas Kemenhub/AGG/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Mia Medyana Bonaedy