Pilot of Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 speaks out for first time
{{date|November 11, 2007}}
[[Image:Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-400 SIN.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-400 at [[w:Singapore Changi Airport|Singapore Changi Airport]] on February 4, 2007. It is nearly identical to the one that crashed. {{Image source|[[Commons:User:Terence Ong|Terence Ong]]}}]]
Marwoto Komar, pilot of [[w:Garuda Indonesia|Garuda Indonesia]] [[w:Garuda Indonesia Flight 200|Flight 200]], a [[W:Boeing|Boeing]] [[w:Boeing 737|737-400]] which overshot the runway in [[w:Yogyakarta|Yogyakarta]], [[Indonesia]] on March 7, killing 21, has spoken to the media for the first time about the accident. Five of the deceased were [[Australia]]n.

"I am deeply, deeply mourning for the victims and for the Australians," Mr Komar told ''[[w:News Limited|News Limited ]]''. A recent report found his actions to be chiefly responsible for the disaster, finding that he had ignored fifteen automated warnings that he was going too fast, and describing him as fixated with landing. As a result, he is likely to face criminal charges.

Mr Komar broke down outside his [[w:Jakarta|Jakarta]] residence as he told reporters “I didn't plan for this to happen. The point is that I want people to know I am deeply in mourning and also that I understand what the families feel. I just did my job as normal, as usual, flying as a pilot.”

Mr Komar is currently undergoing psychological treatment for mental problems caused by the crash. His flying license has been suspended. "Every day I am here at home, I have never run away. I have explained everything to the KNKT (Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee) and to the police," he said.

Mr Komar said he couldn't comment on technical aspects of the crash, or of the criticisms of his conduct, as the matter is still under police investigation. He is likely to face negligence charges which carry a prison sentence if convicted.

Three other Garuda employees are currently being questioned in [[w:Jakarta|Jakarta]] by police as part of the investigation. They've been told that they are being interrogated as "witnesses".

Meanwhile, Emirsyah Satar, managing director of the airline, has announced an intention to resume flights to Europe next year, assuming success in a current bid to get the airline off the [[w:list of air carriers banned in the EU|list of air carriers banned in the EU]], where all Indonesian airlines were placed earlier this year. He suggested [[w:Amsterdam|Amsterdam]] as the most likely destination.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Australia completes inquest for victims of Garuda Indonesia Flight 200|date=November 9, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Calls made for prosecution in light of Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 report|date=October 25, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Garuda Indonesia Flight 200's pilot's marital problems may have affected judgement|date=October 25, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Report blames pilot error for Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 disaster|date=October 22, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=EU bans all Indonesian airlines as well as several from Russia, Ukraine and Angola|date=June 29, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Dozens dead in Indonesian plane crash|date=March 7, 2007}}

== Sources ==
{{wikipedia|Garuda Indonesia Flight 200}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22742829-26103,00.html|title=Garuda pilot feels families' pain |author=|pub=The Australian|date=November 12, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22740595-401,00.html|title=Garuda pilot 'grief stricken'|author=Cindy Wockner |pub=The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|date=November 12, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22741417-662,00.html|title=Garuda pilot breaks silence on jet crash disaster|author=Cindy Wockner|pub=The Herald Sun|date=November 12, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/11/10/garuda-to-resume-flights-to-europe-next-year/|title=Garuda to resume flights to Europe next year|author=|pub=ANTARA|date=November 10, 2007}}

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Indonesia]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Garuda Indonesia]] [[Category:Iain Macdonald (Wikinewsie)]]
[[Category:National Transportation Safety Committee]]
[[Category:Yogyakarta]]
[[Category:Garuda Indonesia Flight 200]]
Singapore Changi Airport on February 4, 2007. It is nearly identical to the one that crashed. 
Marwoto Komar, pilot of Garuda Indonesia Flight 200, a Boeing 737-400 which overshot the runway in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on March 7, killing 21, has spoken to the media for the first time about the accident. Five of the deceased were Australian.

"I am deeply, deeply mourning for the victims and for the Australians," Mr Komar told News Limited . A recent report found his actions to be chiefly responsible for the disaster, finding that he had ignored fifteen automated warnings that he was going too fast, and describing him as fixated with landing. As a result, he is likely to face criminal charges.

Mr Komar broke down outside his Jakarta residence as he told reporters “I didn't plan for this to happen. The point is that I want people to know I am deeply in mourning and also that I understand what the families feel. I just did my job as normal, as usual, flying as a pilot.”

Mr Komar is currently undergoing psychological treatment for mental problems caused by the crash. His flying license has been suspended. "Every day I am here at home, I have never run away. I have explained everything to the KNKT (Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee) and to the police," he said.

Mr Komar said he couldn't comment on technical aspects of the crash, or of the criticisms of his conduct, as the matter is still under police investigation. He is likely to face negligence charges which carry a prison sentence if convicted.

Three other Garuda employees are currently being questioned in Jakarta by police as part of the investigation. They've been told that they are being interrogated as "witnesses".

Meanwhile, Emirsyah Satar, managing director of the airline, has announced an intention to resume flights to Europe next year, assuming success in a current bid to get the airline off the list of air carriers banned in the EU, where all Indonesian airlines were placed earlier this year. He suggested Amsterdam as the most likely destination.
Asia Indonesia Economy and business Crime and law Disasters and accidents Transport Aviation Garuda Indonesia Iain Macdonald (Wikinewsie) National Transportation Safety Committee Yogyakarta Garuda Indonesia Flight 200