KNKT: Lion Air Airspeed Indicator Damaged since 3 Flights Before

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) flight accident committee head, Nurcahyo Utomo, said on Monday evening, November 5, the airspeed indicator of Lion Air JT 610’s black box was malfunction since three flights before the Monday crash in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, West Java.

“The damage occurs from flight to Manado, Manado to Denpasar, Denpasar to Jakarta, and Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang,” said Nurcahyo in the KNKT office on Monday, November 5.

He noted the agency was currently investigating the recovery efforts made by the airline's technicians as well as examining book reference used to deal with damages on the plane and parts of components repaired or replaced by them.

KNKT head Soerjanto Tjahjanto previously said the Flight Data Recorder or FDR of Lion Air JT 610’s black box had been downloaded with the help of two investigators from Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

Soerjanto said the analysis would commence today, November 6, pending on various data from the crash site. Earlier investigation report would later be released one month after the incident.

Tempo asked for confirmation from the operational director of Lion Air Daniel Putut and corporate communications strategic officer of Lion Air Danang Mandala Prihantoro in light of the information issued by KNKT. However, both could not yet be reached via phone calls and short messages.

Earlier, Danang said each aircraft–including the downed Boeing 737-8 Max was required to undergo three checks before operations based on the operational standard, pre-flight check, transit check, and post-flight check. According to Danang, the aircraft met the status safe to fly from the technician, otherwise, it could be operated.

CHITRA PARAMAESTI