Adam Air Plunges Into Sea
Friday, 12 January, 2007 | 12:01 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Bandung: The succession of Adam aircraft debris findings at Lotjie bay, Baru Regency, South Sulawesi, strengthened the suspicion that the plane plunged and crashed into the sea. The aircraft that was missing since January 1, “It may already be destroyed when it was still in mid-air or when plunging into the water,” said the Institute of Technology of Bandung flight expert, Hisar M. Pasaribu, yesterday (11/1).

According to him, these two speculations are possible considering some findings. The first fact is related to an emergency signal (ELBA) which was fixed at three coordinates. The next is the part of the plane's tail found by a fisherman three days ago (9/1).

The first possibility is the plane crashed when it turned to dive. This can happen if the plane's structure could not hold the pressure due to the diving speed. Another possibility is the aircraft was destroyed when it hit the water’s surface.

Hisar said that all assumptions and causes can only be confirmed if the aircraft’s black box containing communication and the plane's data record is found. “From there, the last seconds can be simulated,” he said.

Hisar explained the cause of Boeing 737’s accident which so far appears to be the rudder or the part that controls the plane to turn. “The rudder jamming when taking a turn can force the plane to fly in a spiral and continue to dive until it plummets.”

The data recorded by the Meteorology and Geophisics Agency (BMG) during last week showed that the wind at Sulawesi’s southern waters was from north to south at a speed of between30 and 40 kilometers per hour. “This wind speed allowed the plane's debris in the sea to be carried by waves,” said Arif Triono, Head of BMG Observation and Information Maritim Tanjung Perak, Surabaya.

This condition, according to Arif, can explain why the plane's debris was found in the southern Mamuju waters. Three days ago, KRI (Indonesian Naval Vessel) Fatahillah and UNSR Mary Sears ship detected a round metal object at a depth of 1,700 meter in the waters which was thought to be Adam Air debris.

AHMAD FIKRI | KUKUH WIBOWO | EKO ARI