Pilots struggled to control plane that crashed in Indonesia: Report
Jakarta, Nov 28 : Black box data show Lion Air pilots struggled to maintain control of a Boeing jet as its automatic safety system repeatedly pushed the plane's nose down, according to a draft of a preliminary report by Indonesian authorities investigating last month's deadly crash.
The investigators are focusing on whether faulty information from sensors led the plane's system to force the nose down. The new Boeing 737 MAX 8 plunged into the Java Sea on October 29, killing all 189 people on board, including an Indian pilot.
Information from the Lion Air jet's flight data recorder was included in a briefing for the Indonesian Parliament. Indonesian authorities were due to release the findings Wednesday but not to draw conclusions from the data they present.
Peter Lemme, an expert in aviation and satellite communications and a former Boeing engineer, wrote an analysis of the data on his blog.
The MAX aircraft, the latest version of Boeing's popular 737 jetliner, includes an automated system that pushes the nose down if a sensor detects that the nose is pointed so high that the plane could go into an aerodynamic stall.
Lemme described "a deadly game of tag" in which the plane pointed down, the pilots countered by manually aiming the nose higher, only for the sequence to repeat about five seconds later.
That happened 26 times, but pilots failed to recognize what was happening and follow the known procedure for countering incorrect activation of the automated safety system, Lemme told The Associated Press.
Lemme said he was also troubled that there weren't easy checks to see if sensor information was correct, that the crew of the fatal flight apparently wasn't warned that similar problems had occurred on previous flights, and that the Lion Air jet wasn't fixed after those flights.
"Had they fixed the airplane, we would not have had the accident," he said. "Every accident is a combination of events, so there is disappointment all around here," he said.
Boeing did not immediately respond to two emails and a phone call requesting comment.
The company said last week that it remains confident in the safety of the 737 MAX and had given airlines around the world two updates to "re-emphasize existing procedures for these situations."
Pilots at American Airlines and Southwest Airlines complained this month that they had not been given all information about the new system on the MAX. More than 200 MAX jets have been delivered to airlines around the world.
The Indonesian investigation is continuing with help from US regulators and Boeing. Searchers have not found the plane's cockpit voice recorder, which would provide more information about the pilots' actions.
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Indian airlines cancel 281 flights amid Middle East crisis
New Delhi (PTI): Indian carriers cancelled 281 international flights on Thursday due to the Middle East crisis, and the government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the region.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East involving the US, Israel and Iran has resulted in airspace closures that have significantly impacted flight operations.
The civil aviation ministry on Thursday said it continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in West Asia.
"As of 5 March, a total of 281 flights scheduled to operate today by Indian domestic carriers have been cancelled. Passengers are advised to regularly monitor their flight status and remain attentive to updates shared through their registered contact details by their respective airlines," the ministry said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, a Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) is operational.
"A total of 1,461 grievances have been addressed during this period through AirSewa, social media platforms, and dedicated helpline calls, in coordination with airlines and other concerned stakeholders. For assistance, passengers may reach out to the Ministry's PACR helpline numbers: 011-24604283 / 011-24632987," the ministry said.
Meanwhile, at least 70 international flights were cancelled at Delhi and Bangalore airports on Thursday due to the Middle East crisis, officials said.
SpiceJet said it would operate 13 special flights on Thursday, while Akasa Air would have one flight as well as the return from Mumbai to Jeddah.
"Flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait will remain suspended until March 07, 2026," Akasa Air said in a post on X.
Carriers, including those from the Middle East, started operating a limited number of flights to ferry stranded passengers.
In a report on Thursday, credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings said it expects the conflict will likely have a more pronounced effect on Indian-headquartered carriers, given their higher capacity and number of routes to the Middle East.
"We believe carriers with a higher proportion of international routes will be most affected," it added.
According to the report, the Middle East is a critical hub for international air travel, with major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha that connect passenger traffic between Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Leading regional airlines -- including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways, which are some of the largest airlines globally -- depend heavily on this region for their hub-and-spoke operations. As a result, they face more immediate challenges due to the recent escalations, the report said.
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