Lion Air crash believed to have killed 189 people
According to the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency, nobody has survived the crash.
On Monday 29 October, a Lion Air Flight carrying 189 people lost contact off the coast of Java island and plunged towards the sea 13 minutes after takeoff. According to the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency, nobody has survived the crash.
The Lion Air flight JT610, an almost new Boeing 737 MAX 8 that had been in use for less than three months, was travelling from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, capital of the Bangka-Belitung tin mining region, when the crash occurred. Flight data showed that the passenger plane made a sudden, sharp dive into the sea. Officials said that human remains had been recovered from the crash site and that they did not expect to find any survivors.
Lion Air’s Chief Executive, Edward Sirait, told reporters that the plane had suffered ‘a technical issue’ on Sunday night but that it had been cleared to fly on Monday morning. “This plane previously flew from Denpasar to Jakarta,” he said. “There was a report of a technical issue, which had been resolved according to procedure.”
Boeing released a statement that reads: “The Indonesia Ministry of Transportation has confirmed it has located the wreckage of Lion Air Flight JT 610. The Boeing Company is deeply saddened by the loss of Flight JT 610. We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones. Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation. In accordance with international protocol, all inquiries about aviation accident investigations must be directed to the Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC).”