Safety Depends on Coordination

The results of the investigation into the Lion Air JT-610 crash can be used as a reference for improvements in flight safety. Do not let such an incident happen again.

KOMPAS/ALIF ICHWAN

The National Transportation Safety Committee\'s (KNKT) subcommittee head for air accidents, Nurcahyo Utomo (left), accompanied by KNKT Chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono, explains the chronology of an aircraft accident during a press conference at the KNKT office, Jakarta, Friday (25/10/2019).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The results of the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) into the causes of the accident involving a Boeing 737 MAX 8 PK-LQP aircraft owned by Lion Air on flight JT-610 should be used as a reference for the improvement of civil aviation safety.

In the future, the government, the aircraft industry and aviation service providers must strengthen coordination for the sake of aviation safety.

The KNKT said the Lion Air JT-610 plane crash was triggered by nine factors. There has never been a single factor behind any plane crash.

One of the findings is the non-functioning indicator lights to show the difference between the left and right angle of attack (AOA) sensors. Without that indicator, pilots cannot be sure of the accuracy of the AOA, which activates the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS).

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) officers inspect the turbine of the downed Lion Air plane at the Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) 2 in Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, Sunday (4/11/2018). A search operation for the wreckage of the plane, which plunged into Karawang waters in West Java, was extended until Wednesday (7/11/2018).

As a result, after the system took control, the pilot immediately lost control of the Lion Air plane on the Jakarta-Pangkal Pinang route. "The pilot and copilot of the Lion Air aircraft also did not communicate and coordinate properly. One controlled the aircraft, one searched for information in the manual even though it was difficult to find the instructions in the manual," said KNKT flight accident investigator, Ony Suryo Wibowo, after the press conference held in Jakarta on Friday.

Technicians handling the aircraft also lacked information related to flight conditions that had previously occurred because not all information related to previous flights was recorded.

Based on the investigation, it was found that there were no guidelines regarding MCAS for pilots during training. Technicians handling the aircraft also lacked information related to flight conditions that had previously occurred because not all information related to previous flights was recorded.

Due to various interrelated factors, a year ago, on Oct. 29, 2018, the Lion Air JT-610 plane crashed off the Karawang coast, West Java. A total of 189 passengers and crew died in the incident

Continue to be monitored

Alvin Lie, a member of the Indonesian Ombudsman for transportation, infrastructure, communication and the environment, called on the government and related authorities to continue to monitor and follow up on the results of investigations on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft at the international level.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

The Bajau Victory Bay ship is anchored at the center for discoveries of parts of the Lion Air aircraft in Karawang waters, West Java. The search for the plane’s CVR was carried out by a joint search and rescue team.

The KNKT, the Transportation Ministry Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the community of international civil aviation authorities are encouraged to coordinate closely in this monitoring.

Such steps should be taken so that no more aircraft accidents occur in Indonesia. "The aircraft manufacturer did not disclose the existence of the MCAS feature. This was negligence by Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA]," Alvin said.

With the result of the investigation, preventive measures should be established so that accidents like this will not happen again,"

Danang Mandala Prihantoro of Lion Air Group’s strategic corporate communications said Lion Air appreciated the results of the KNKT investigation. "This investigation is essential in finding the root of the problems and factors behind the accident. With the result of the investigation, preventive measures should be established so that accidents like this will not happen again," he said.

Meanwhile, Transportation Ministry Director General of Air Transportation Polana B Pramesti said the government continued to coordinate with international authorities and organizations, particularly the FAA and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to ensure flight safety and security in Indonesia.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

The wheels of the downed Lion Air plane are unloaded from the KRI Banda Aceh at the Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) 2 in Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, on Saturday (3/11/2018).

Recommendation

The KNKT has also published recommendations for Lion Air, Batam Aero Technic, Airnav Indonesia, the Boeing Company, Xtra Aerospace, the Directorate General of Air Transportation, the Transportation Ministry and the FAA, and training for pilots," said the head of the aviation safety investigation department at the KNKT, Nurcahyo Utomo.

In its official statement regarding the KNKT announcement, Boeing expressed deep sorrow to the families of the victims. The US company has also improved the software for the aircraft control.

"Changes in software will help aircraft controllers prevent such accidents occurring again. Boeing has updated the instructions for the crew and pilot training. This is designed to ensure every pilot has all the information to fly the B737 MAX safely," said Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg.

There is a more important problem; so far there has been no responsibility from Lion Air in terms of compensation. Similarly, the government is not strict in implementing the rules.

Anton Sahadi, one of the victims\' families, said that the findings of the KNKT did not change the perception of the sad events a year ago. "We have heard the explanation of the KNKT, there is nothing special. Indeed, what is the follow on from these findings? There is a more important problem; so far there has been no responsibility from Lion Air in terms of compensation. Similarly, the government is not strict in implementing the rules. There have been no sanctions imposed on Lion Air," said Anton.

Anton further said that so far, of 189 victims, only 69 victims\' families had received compensation of Rp 1.25 billion per victim. While the 120 other victims\' families have not received what they are entitled to from Lion Air. (AFP)