Trial begins of pilot accused of negligence in crash that killed 21

By The Associated Press , Yogyakarta | Thu, 07/24/2008 7:43 PM | National

CAPTAIN ON TRIAL: Capt. Marwoto Komar, pilot of an Indonesian jetliner that crashed killing 21 people, sits on the defendant's chair during his trial in Yogyakarta on Thursday (AP photo).

The pilot of an Indonesian jetliner that crashed killing 21 people went on trial Thursday accused of negligence, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, his lawyer said.

The trial of Capt. Marwoto Komar is believed to be first time a pilot has faced criminal charges in Indonesia, which in recent years has had a string of deadly aviation accidents.

Lawyer Muhammad Assegaf said Komar had suffered enough because he lost his pilot's license and claimed the trial would give other pilots second thoughts about flying because of fears of prosecution.

Komar was the chief pilot of a Garuda Airline 737 jet that overshot the runway at Yogyakarta airport on Java island on March 7, 2007, and then burst into flames. Five of the dead were Australians, including a journalist and government and police officials.

The crash followed a string of deadly accidents in Indonesia that raised concern over aviation safety and led the European Union to ban Indonesian airlines from flying to member countries.

A government investigation last year found Komar at fault, saying he approached the runway at almost double the landing speed.

"The defendant ignored his copilot's pleas and warning signs from the airplane's monitors to turn around as he approached the runway well overspeed," prosecutor Mudim Aristo told a court in the central Javanese town of Yogyakarta.

Indonesian courts do not require the accused to make a formal plea.

The trial - which is expected to last several months - was adjourned until next week, when lawyers will formally respond to the charges.

"This trial criminalizes an aviation matter for the first time in this country," said Assegaf. "It will have a wide impact on the Indonesian pilots that will now worry when carrying out their duties."

Some fellow pilots attended the trial to show support for Komar.(**)