Lion Air Incident: Transportation Minister Hopes for Best Possibility

Lion Air flight JT-610 lost contact with authorities today (29/10) at 06.33 a.m. Western Indonesian Time. The flight which was operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8 is on the Jakarta-Pangkal Pinang route.

Spokesperson of the Air Transportation Directorate General Sindu Rahayu in a press statement said that the plane was last caught on radar at the coordinate point of 05 46.15 S – 107 07.16 E. “The plane that took off at 06.10 a.m. was scheduled to land at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkalpinang at 7.10 a.m. Western Indonesian Time,” Sindu said in the press statement.

According to Sindu, the plane carrying 178 adult passengers, one child, two infants, two pilots and five flight attendants on board flight JT 610 requested to return to base before disappearing from radar.

“Air Transportation Directorate General is coordinating with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Lion Air as the operator, the Sea Transportation Directorate General, and the Indonesian Flight Navigation Service Institution (LPPNPI) to conduct search and rescue activities for the JT-610 plane,” Sindu added.

In the meantime, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said that he had received report about the missing plane from Airnav and Air Transportation Directorate General an hour ago.

“I am deeply saddened by the report and have instructed several stakeholders, Air Transportation Directorate General, the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT), and Basarnas to make further observation,” the Minister said in Jakarta.

According to the Minister, based on the observation, there is indication that the aircraft could not carry on its route but the ministry is still clarifying. “We still hope for the best possibility. Thus, Crisis Center is opened at Terminal 1 in Soekarno Hatta International Airport,” Budi concluded. (Humas Kemenhub/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : M. Ersan Pamungkas