Transport Minister Says 8501 ‘Stalled’

0

Indonesia’s transport minister told reporters Tuesday that ADS-B data showed AirAsia 8501 climbing at a rate of 8,000 feet per minute before it crashed in the Java Sea Dec. 28, killing all 162 people on board. Ignasius Jonan made some remarks about the crash during a parliamentary hearing in which he also unveiled reforms to the country’s aviation system. He elaborated when questioned by reporters later. “The plane may have climbed in the last minutes at a speed beyond normal limits. After that, it stalled. Why did it stall? I don’t know,” Jonan told reporters, according to The Wall Street Journal. Jonan said the aircraft then descended and went off radar three minutes after the steep climb. Even though he seemed quite sure of events leading up to the crash, Jonan then cautioned reporters not to draw conclusions about the cause of the crash before investigators finished their report. Investigators have not yet revealed any information gleaned from the aircraft’s flight data recorder, which is being analyzed in Jakarta.

Jonan said the much-faster-than-normal climb (typical climb rates are between 1,000 and 2,000 fpm) began right after air traffic controllers refused a request from the flight crew for a climb to avoid weather but allowed a course deviation. The changes being introduced by the government would tighten rules around obtaining route permits and the sale of tickets on flights that have not been approved. The crash plane was technically flying illegally because the airline did not have a route permit for Sunday service for that flight. Meanwhile, the team examining the cockpit voice recorder has all but ruled out terrorism as a factor in the crash. A spokesman said Monday there were no sounds of gunfire or explosions on the tapes, making it unlikely that terrorism was involved. Divers are now searching the fuselage of the A320 for bodies and the main piece of wreckage is being readied to raise to the surface this week.

LEAVE A REPLY