Government Asks Adam Air to Pay for Salvage
Wednesday, 31 January, 2007 | 12:39 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Transportation Minister Hatta Rajasa has said that PT Adam Sky Connection Airlines should pay for the salvage of the Adam Air plane as well as its black box from a depth of 2,000 meters in the Majene waters, West Sulawesi.

“Even a ship is under the responsibility of its owner or operator. Adam Air has certainly insured (its aircraft),” he said after receiving US Ambassador Lynn B. Pascoe yesterday (01/30) at his office.

Earlier, Setio Rahardjo, Head of National Committee for Transportation Safety, explained that the salvage of the missing Adam Air aircraft will require funds of at least US$1 million to bring in the equipment that has a daily leasing cost of US$100,000.

“The salvage will take a maximum of 10 days,” he said Saturday (01/27).

However, Adam Aditya Suherman, President Director of Adam Air, said that the company did not yet have funds for the salvage.

According to him, the most crucial thing was to seek for the necessary technology.

“If the equipment is available, then we will discuss and coordinate whether or not we are capable of carrying this out. Only then, we will see how much money we can afford,” said Suherman in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday (01/29) after attending a coordinating meeting with the government.

PT Adam Air is ready to pay out Rp500 million in compensation for each victim, not including benefits from Jasa Raharja.

The airline has confirmed that the missing plane was insured.

However, Suherman said that he did not know whether or not the insurance company was ready to provide funds for salvaging the aircraft.

He went on to say that all operators of Boeing 737-400 planes throughout the world were concerned as regards the salvage.

“It is not only in Adam Air's interest, but also in the interest of the aviation world,” said Suherman.

According to Hatta, the black box salvaging was important for the investigation process.

Therefore, it is planned that today (01/31) National Committee for Transportation Safety will discuss this with the US National Transportation Safety Board.

Harun Mahbub | Irmawati | Ahmad Fikri