188 passengers and crew are feared dead as debris from a Lion Air 737 MAX 8 has washed up onshore near Jakarta.
Lion Air flight JT-610 took off this morning at 6:21 A.M. from Jakarta enroute to Pangkal Pinang. Just 13 minutes after takeoff, the flight lost contact with air traffic control. While there was no mayday call or radar indication of a problem, it never arrived at its destination.
Hours later, as search teams combed the bay just north of Jakarta, debris was located. This included plane parts, lifejackets, personal belongings and oil.
The flight was operated by a Boeing 737 Max 8, only a few months old. According to Indonesian officials, the flight manifest included 178 adults, 3 infants, two pilots, and five cabin crew members.
Edward Sirait, Lion Air’s CEO, provided little insight:
We cannot give any comment at this moment. We are trying to collect all the information and data.
Although this story is developing, I do not expect good news.
We're following reports that contact has been lost with Lion Air flight #JT610 shortly after takeoff from Jakarta.
ADS-B data from the flight is available at https://t.co/zNM33cM0na pic.twitter.com/NIU7iuCcFu
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 29, 2018
CONCLUSION
For a country that has been through so much tragedy in the preceding weeks with a recent massive earthquake, tsunami, and its aftermath, my heart breaks for every soul onboard as well as their friends and family. I clutched my son tight tonight as I tucked him into bed. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away. But how sad when it happens so suddenly.
image: Lion Air
I’m an Indonesian also shock to death when see the news. luckily all my families not have any flights today. but still it’s heart breaking to see this news again, and it’s not happened once, but twice with Adam Air (long time ago, I forgot when, but it’s also quite big news too)
and now I really trauma to take any flight from Lion Air. as FYI: Lion Air is one of largest airlines in Indonesia, but their schedule is so mess up (the delay is treacherous, and even worsen if there is any bad weather), and the economy leg room is hideous (for me who 177cm height), but their price sometime is the best compared to other airlines.
Maybe for this year chinese new year, if my families must go to Pangkal Pinang, I will go with Sriwijaya Air or NAM Air, and maybe go with Garuda (the most expensive if I can say) if there is no other choices.
There is something deeply troubling about this ( in addition to the dreadful human tragedy): a brand new, state of the art plane, in service only since August this year, flying in benign weather , departing from a recognised safe airport.
It can hardly be an issue of sloppy maintenance ( ie, the first thing that comes to mind in Indonesian crashes).
It is hoped that a Boeing is there very quickly lest there be another years long, dragged-out, inconclusive investigation in the manner of Silk Air or Adam Air.
It’s a terrible tragedy and a further reminder that 2017, the year of no crashes, was the exception rather than a new reality.
Wait… pangkal pinang is northwest of jakarta, the flight go northeast?
Anyway, true that compared to airbus boeing shall dispatch its personnel asap. Not to help with investigation, but for damage control. In each accident involving boeing, almost none points to plane/engine fault. Either weather or person/pilot.
Thank you for this, James
May God have mercy on their souls.
Has to be an external problem – I’d think bitds right now.