Air Force planes fit to fly: Chief

YOGYAKARTA: Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Djoko Suyanto refuted speculation that two military planes which crashed last week were not fit to fly.

"All of our planes must undergo a series of checks before flying. If they receive the go-ahead, it means they are eligible to fly," Djoko said on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Air Force Academy anniversary celebration in Yogyakarta.

"If a flying aircraft develops problems, it's another story. A car sometimes faces engine problems doesn't it," he explained.

A joint team comprising Air Force officers and state aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia experts were investigating the accident involving a military cargo plane CN-235, while another Air Force team was probing the crash of an OV-10 Bronco training plane.

Earlier defense minister Juwono Sudarsono complained of a shortage of money for maintenance of military equipment, including planes. -- Antara