L-100-30 (P) Hercules

The Hercules was transporting military personnel and their families from Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport to Iswahyudi Air Force Base in East Java. It was then due to continue to Sulawesi and Papua. The plane was carrying 112 people: 41 military passengers, 60 civilians and 11 military crew. Weather was fine and flying conditions were good. The plane crashed 5.5km north of the East Java air base, hitting four houses in Geplak village before skidding into rice fields and bursting into flames. Fifteen people on board survived. The Indonesian military never publicly disclosed the cause of the crash.

Adam Air Flight 574

January 1, 2007

Route: Surabaya – Manado

102 fatalities: 96 passengers, 6 crew

Plane: Boeing 737-400

Adam Air was among the budget airlines that emerged during the air transport sector’s liberalisationafter the 1998 fall of Suharto. Adam Air, which began operating in December 2003, was founded by Golkar Party executive Agung Laksono (who served as parliament speaker and chief welfare minister). The airline faced accusations of corruption and violating safety standards to maximize profits. Flight 574 broke up while airborne and landed in the Makassar Strait off the coast of West Sulawesi province. It was the deadliest accident involving a Boeing 737-400. Pilots lost control of the plane while tinkering with the inertial navigation system and unknowingly disconnected the autopilot. Adam Air was banned from flying in June 2008 and went bankrupt.

Silk Air Flight 185

December 19, 1997

104 deaths: 97 passengers, 7 crew

Route: Jakarta – Singapore

Plane: Boeing 737-300

SilkAir, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is generally regarded as one of