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New chief after plane disaster
14/03/2007 13:10 - (SA)
Jakarta - Indonesia has replaced its air transport chief, said an official on Wednesday, a week after a fiery airliner disaster killed 21 people.
The move comes amid pressure for better safety in Indonesia's skies following last Wednesday's accident - filmed in grisly detail by a cameraman who survived - and a crash on New Year's Day that killed 102 people.
Budhi Muliawan Suyitno became the head of air transport on Tuesday said Dody Sofilin, a member of his staff. He replaced Iksan Tatang, who subsequently was appointed transport ministry inspector-general, Suyitno's former role.
Suyitno and Indonesia's embattled transport minister Hatta Rajasa were to make an unscheduled inspection of the international airport in the capital, Jakarta, later on Wednesday, added Sofilin.
The appointment came as a senior expert from a transport task force set up by Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said air safety had hit a "low point".
"There is still room for improvement," the expert, Oetarjo Diran, said on Tuesday after submitting an interim report to the president.
Low confidence
Indonesians' confidence in air travel, which helps to bind their archipelago nation of 17 000 islands, has been badly shaken by the disasters.
The country has suffered both air and ferry tragedies recently, with the total death toll from the worst accidents running into hundreds.
Experts blame old planes and ships, lax standards and insufficient investment in safety measures, despite booming passenger numbers.
- AFP
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