An Indonesian Lion Air flight carrying 189 people has crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Jakarta. Flight JT 610, a Boeing 737 Max 8, lost contact with air traffic control 13 minutes into its journey to Pangkal Pinang. Rescuers have recovered body parts and personal items, including baby shoes, but there are no signs of survivors.
The pilot had requested to return to Jakarta before the crash, officials said. The cause of the accident remains unclear, though Lion Air's chief executive, Edward Sirait, confirmed the plane had an unspecified technical issue on a previous flight, which he claimed had been resolved. The aircraft had been in operation since August 2018.
Search and rescue operational director Bambang Suryo stated, 'I predict there are no survivors, based on body parts found so far.' Families have been directed to a hospital for identification. At a crisis centre at Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma airport, distraught relatives waited for news. Murtado Kurniawan, whose wife was on board, said, 'I can't live without her, I love her.'
The 737 Max series is Boeing's fastest-selling, but this is the first major accident involving the updated model. Boeing expressed sympathy and offered technical assistance for the investigation. Australia has advised its government workers to avoid Lion Air pending the findings.
Indonesia, heavily reliant on air travel, has a poor aviation safety record. Lion Air, established in 1999, was banned from European airspace until 2016 due to safety concerns. The airline operates 11 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes but has no plans to ground the fleet.
