In a span of little more than a week, two unfortunate incidents befall Indonesian low-cost carrier Lion Air. Following the fatal crash of Lion Air 737 claiming the lives of 189 people, another one of its planes has been involved in an accident during take-off yesterday.
Lion Air flight JT633 reportedly crashed into an electric pole in Fatmawati Airport in Bengkulu. The flight was supposed to transport 143 passengers to Jakarta. Thank God, no injuries have been reported. However, the crash caused its left wing to tear, as well as flight delays.
Lion Air again, the airplane was ready for take off and hit a light pole at Fatmawati Bengkulu Airport, Aircraft Reg JT-633, Route BKS-CGK. Something big and wrong is happening there …. pic.twitter.com/Tu54yoPCyk
— Aviation Safety Consulting (@avsafeco) November 7, 2018
Acting director-general of Air Transportation, Pramintohadi Sukarno, explained that the Boeing 737-900 ER aircraft with the registration number PK-LGY that planned to depart from Fatmawati Airport in Bengkulu to Soekarno Hatta Airport in Banten at 18:20 local times hit a pole while moving towards the runway for takeoff. In a written statement, he said, “the aircraft and pilot are grounded for investigation purpose.”
Lion Air corporate communications strategic, Danang Mandala Prihantoro, issued an apology over the incident. He said a team had been deployed to conduct an examination of the aircraft. “Lion Air apologizes to all passengers for the inconvenience caused by the incident,” Danang said.
Lion Air flight JT610
The latest incident put Lion Air in the spotlight again following the fatal crash on 29 October. Authorities continue to search for the bodies of passengers from the accident of the Lion Air flight JT610, which plunged into the Java Sea en route to Pangkal Pinang. Unfortunately, authorities confirmed that there are no survivors.
Boeing and US aviation authorities have issued global safety warnings to airlines following the crash.
I can't begin to imagine their grief right now. My deepest sympathies to them all and give them strength to get through this. ?????#JT610 #LionAir #PrayforJT610 pic.twitter.com/LMMMCNyx5O
— Balqis Sidiqia (@BalqisSidiqia) October 29, 2018
Virgin Australia is anxiously waiting for the outcome of flight JT610’s investigation see if any changes need to be made for its order of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. Virgin has ordered 30 of the fuel-efficient 737 Max 8 aircraft, which are due for delivery in November 2019, and will replace its existing 737-700/800 planes.
The order is reportedly still in place but the airline is monitoring the outcome of an investigation by Indonesian authorities into the crash to see if any recommendations are made for changes to be made to the aircraft.
There is no denying that Lion Air suffered the blow of these two accidents and it would seem that people will think twice before flying with the low-cost airline.
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