Govt grounds four Boeing 737-200
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a stepped-up drive to boost safety in the domestic airline industry, the government grounded four Boeing 737-200 planes operated by four different airlines due to problems found in those aircraft.
In an impromptu visit to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport over the weekend, Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa oversaw random safety checks on selected domestic airliners following the recent crash of a Mandala Airlines aircraft.
During the random check, Hatta, accompanied by a number of the ministry's senior officials, entered several Boeing 737-200 jets belonging to a number of local budget carriers.
One of the aircraft was in the process of boarding passengers when he made the random check, while the check on the other airplanes was made when they had just landed.
Hatta said one aircraft had a problem with its wheel system, which caused tremors during takeoff. Another aircraft had a problem with its brakes. But, he did not disclose the problems of the other two. The minister said he had admonished the pilot for failing to immediately report the problem.
Hatta said last week during a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission V on transportation, that the government would intensify random checks on domestic airlines to ensure that planes were being properly maintained.
The move came after a 26-year-old Mandala Airlines Boeing 737- 200 jet crashed immediately after takeoff and plowed into a heavily populated area near Polonia Airport in the North Sumatra capital city of Medan, killing 149 people including those on the ground. Some 14 passengers in the tail section survived the country's worst crash in eight years.
Some reports said that according to the preliminary investigation, engine failure could have been the cause of the crash, although National Transportation Safety Committee experts said it was too early to conclude. Three investigators from the U.S. have arrived in Medan to assist local authorities in the investigation. The flight recorders will be sent to Washington for analysis.
After the crash, many people including lawmakers questioned whether domestic budget airlines were paying enough attention to safety in light of soaring fuel costs and a ticketing price war.
Critics also said that the government should further tighten industry regulations to boost safety and maintenance.
Hatta insisted last week that safety regulations were good and were in line with international practice, but acknowledged that corrupt officials might look the other way during routine inspections.
"It's how to implement these regulations without any behind- the-scenes play, without officials who can be bribed. These are what can endanger safety," he was quoted by Reuters as saying.