PRIME Minister John Howard says he is astonished by the findings of the investigation into a Garuda plane crash in which 21 people, including five Australians, died.
Indonesian investigators found the pilot of the plane ignored 15 “very loud” alarm bells prior to crashing at Yogyakarta airport in central Java on March 7.
“I am quite astonished,” Mr Howard said.
“I can understand how people who are still grieving, both in Indonesia and Australia, might feel.”
The plane overshot the runway in Yogyakarta, crossed a road, and hit an embankment before exploding in flames in a rice field.
Both pilots survived the crash.
Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has made a series of recommendations following its investigation of the crash but did not recommend any criminal action, despite finding flaws with the pilot’s actions.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia wanted the report followed up with possible prosecution of the pilots.
Mr Downer, who had flew into Yogyakarta later on the day of the crash, said the report was very credible and should be taken extremely seriously.
“I’ve asked our embassy in Jakarta to follow the report up with a view to the Indonesians taking legal action coming from the report against those pilots who, at least prima facie and on the basis of this report, appear to be responsible for the accident.”
Mr Downer said the crash aftermath would eventually come down to a legal matter.
Mr Downer said he would be happy to talk to the relatives of victims about a possible class action.
“That’s one possibility,” he said.
Source: The Herald Sun
Sign In
October 23, 2007 at 8:34 am