http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/garuda-crash-pilot-walks-free-after-indonesian-court-overturns-conviction/story-e6frg6so-1225809578547
Garuda crash pilot walks free after Indonesian court overturns conviction a.. From: AFP b.. December 12, 2009 12:44AM AN Indonesian court has overturned a pilot's criminal negligence conviction for crashing at Yogyakarta airport in March 2007, killing 21 people, including five Australians. A lawyer for Garuda Indonesia pilot Marwoto Komar said the Yogyakarta high court had quashed a two-year prison sentence imposed by a district courtnte in April. "The high court has considered Marwoto as trying his best to save the plane and the passengers,'' said lawyer Mohamad Assegaf. Marwoto was "very grateful'' for the decision. Mr Assegaf said Marwoto's lawyers received the official court's notification today. "We also told the court that Yogyakarta airport, which has a bad safety area on the runway, hampered rescue efforts for the victims,'' he said. The Boeing 737 burst into flames after skidding into rice fields. Komar said at his trial that faulty wing flaps were to blame for the jet's excessive airspeed as it came in to land. A report by an Indonesian safety committee, however, found that Komar had ignored 15 automatic warnings telling him he was coming in too fast. The five Australians killed were Australian Federal Police officers Brice Steele and Mark Scott, AusAid country head Allison Sudradjat, diplomat Elizabeth O'Neill and The Australian Financial Review journalist Morgan Mellish. The European Union banned all Indonesian airlines from its airspace in June 2007 due to safety concerns. The ban was lifted in July 2009 for four airlines, including Garuda. Related Coverage a.. Pilots may strike over crash verdict Adelaide Now, 27 Apr 2009 b.. Pilot jailed for negligence Courier Mail, 6 Apr 2009 c.. Garuda jet captain jailed two years Daily Telegraph, 6 Apr 2009 d.. Negligent Garuda crash pilot jailed Adelaide Now, 6 Apr 2009 e.. Indonesia seeks jail for crash pilot Herald Sun, 23 Feb 2009
