Jakarta denies pilots argued before Garuda plane crash

The Straits Times, April 3, 2007


JAKARTA - THERE was no argument between the pilot and co-pilot of a Garuda Indonesia plane that crashed on landing in Yogyakarta last month, killing 21 people, Indonesian officials said yesterday.

Mr Tatang Kurniadi, the chief of Indonesia's National Transport Safety Commission, said in an Australian television programme aired at the weekend that cockpit voice recordings from the passenger jet showed the co-pilot wanted the pilot to go around again instead of landing, but they had no time for the manoeuvre.

Some media reported that his comments suggested the flight crew had argued during the landing.

'It is untrue that there was an argument,' he told a news conference yesterday when asked about his comments on Australia's Nine Network. 'I did not say anything like that.

'The result of the investigation will come out in two weeks. Investigators will not jump to conclusions.'

The Indonesian Transport Minister also denied yesterday that the two pilots had argued.

'That is a lie, that is not true,' Mr Hatta Rajasa said.

In Sunday's interview, Mr Tatang said the captain and first officer were flying together for the first time.

Survivors of the crash had described how the aircraft approached the runway in Yogyakarta at a 'crazy' speed. It had 140 people on board when it overshot the runway, and then burst into flames.

The pilots, who were suspended after the crash, reportedly blamed a strong gust of wind.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS