A Lion Air plane crashed into the Java Sea on Oct. 29 just 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International airport. Of the 189 passengers, no survivors were found, according to The Associated Press.
Indonesian search and rescue workers had since found debris and possibly the fuselage of the almost new Boeing 737 MAX 8.
The plane had showed signs of technical problems the day before the catastrophic crash during a flight from Bali. An official said the aircraft had experienced issues with unreliable airspeed readings.
Family members of the crashed Indonesian Lion Air JT610 react at Pangkal Pinang airport, in Bangka Belitung province on Oct. 29, 2018. HADI SUTRISNO/AFP/Getty Images
According to The pilot had requested to return after takeoff, but crashed shortly after, according to Reuters.
The cause of the crash is still unknown, but investigators hope the black boxes that record the cockpit voices and flight information will help determine the reason, according to Reuters.
A Woman Sends Prayers to Find Husband
A passenger’s wife, Inchy Ayorbaba, shared a video she took with her missing husband, Paul Ferdinand Ayorbaba, via WhatsApp before he boarded the plane. He is seen walking along a concourse, showing his Lion Air boarding pass on camera, and zooming in on a Lion Air aircraft while boarding, according to AP.
A Jakarta police hospital interviewed Inchy when she took her three children for DNA tests to help with victim identification, according to AP.
“We ask for prayers from all the big families in Papua, Makassar, Manado, America and England. We ask for prayers for the best. Hopefully there are miracles. We are hoping for the best and please pray,” Inchy told AP.
How is the Company Doing Now?
Indonesia’s transport minister, Budi Karya Sumadi, said the technical director of Lion Air and staff who approved the flight have been removed from duty. The ministry will be inspecting the airline’s operations, including all low-costing airlines in Indonesia, according to AP.
Lion Air has put an explanation and provided the latest information on its website about the crash. The passengers’ families continue to process Disaster Victim Identification at the Indonesian Police Hospital. The company is providing assistance for families by setting up a crisis center and providing a telephone number for passenger information. The company also promises to deliver the latest information.
Ilene Eng
Reporter
Ilene is a reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area covering Northern California news.
