Govt grounds four Boeing 737-200<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In a stepped-up drive to boost safety in the domestic airline
\nindustry, the government grounded four Boeing 737-200 planes
\noperated by four different airlines due to problems found in
\nthose aircraft.<\/p>\n
In an impromptu visit to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
\nover the weekend, Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa
\noversaw random safety checks on selected domestic airliners
\nfollowing the recent crash of a Mandala Airlines aircraft.<\/p>\n
During the random check, Hatta, accompanied by a number of the
\nministry's senior officials, entered several Boeing 737-200 jets
\nbelonging to a number of local budget carriers.<\/p>\n
One of the aircraft was in the process of boarding passengers
\nwhen he made the random check, while the check on the other
\nairplanes was made when they had just landed.<\/p>\n
Hatta said one aircraft had a problem with its wheel system,
\nwhich caused tremors during takeoff. Another aircraft had a
\nproblem with its brakes. But, he did not disclose the problems of
\nthe other two. The minister said he had admonished the pilot for
\nfailing to immediately report the problem.<\/p>\n
Hatta said last week during a meeting with the House of
\nRepresentatives Commission V on transportation, that the
\ngovernment would intensify random checks on domestic airlines to
\nensure that planes were being properly maintained.<\/p>\n
The move came after a 26-year-old Mandala Airlines Boeing 737-
\n200 jet crashed immediately after takeoff and plowed into a
\nheavily populated area near Polonia Airport in the North Sumatra
\ncapital city of Medan, killing 149 people including those on the
\nground. Some 14 passengers in the tail section survived the
\ncountry's worst crash in eight years.<\/p>\n
Some reports said that according to the preliminary
\ninvestigation, engine failure could have been the cause of the
\ncrash, although National Transportation Safety Committee experts
\nsaid it was too early to conclude. Three investigators from the
\nU.S. have arrived in Medan to assist local authorities in the
\ninvestigation. The flight recorders will be sent to Washington
\nfor analysis.<\/p>\n
After the crash, many people including lawmakers questioned
\nwhether domestic budget airlines were paying enough attention to
\nsafety in light of soaring fuel costs and a ticketing price war.<\/p>\n
Critics also said that the government should further tighten
\nindustry regulations to boost safety and maintenance.<\/p>\n
Hatta insisted last week that safety regulations were good and
\nwere in line with international practice, but acknowledged that
\ncorrupt officials might look the other way during routine
\ninspections.<\/p>\n
\"It's how to implement these regulations without any behind-
\nthe-scenes play, without officials who can be bribed. These are
\nwhat can endanger safety,\" he was quoted by Reuters as saying.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-grounds-four-boeing-737-200-1447893297",
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