TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The acting director-general of Air Transportation Pramintohadi Sukarno said another aircraft of budget carrier Lion Air with a tail number JT 633 and its pilot were grounded after a wing of the plane hit an electric pole in Fatmawati Airport in Bengkulu.

“The aircraft and pilot are grounded for investigation purpose,” said Pramintohadi in a written statement on Wednesday, November 7.

Pramintohadi explained 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.

Read also: Boeing Warns Other Airlines after Lion Air Crash

Investigation on the incident would be conducted by Inspector of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operation, Airport Inspector, and Aviation Safety Inspector in a bid to find out the cause and issue follow-up steps to be taken.

“We have instructed the airport inspector to affirm the airline abide by the regulation and give compensation for the flight delay to the passengers,” he noted.

Lion Air Corporate Communications Strategic Danang Mandala Prihantoro delivered apology over the incident. He said a team had been deployed to examine the plane. “Lion Air apologizes to all passengers for the inconvenience caused by the incident,” Danang said.

CHITRA PARAMAESTI