Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation will tighten aviation safety standards by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the regulations for low-cost carriers and full service airlines.

"We will evaluate aviation safety regulations for all airlines," Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said here on Thursday.

The minister remarked that the evaluation would be adjusted to the report on the results of the investigation of the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).

The minister will also seek assistance from the United States` Federal Aviation Administration, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the European Union.

"The government will also seek recommendations from the EU, ICAO, and FAA regarding safety standards," he remarked.

A joint diving team earlier managed to retrieve the black box of the crashed Lion Air plane from the waters of North Karawang, West Java, an official stated on Thursday.

"Both the Baruna Jaya boat and KRI Rigel warship located its position, and the joint diving team then dove deep down and pulled out the black box from the water," Col Iswarto, commander of the SAR task force, informed the press.

The black box was found at a depth of 25-35 meters under the sea and was drifted for some 100 meters from the initial estimated location.

The black box was sent to the Tanjung Priok seaport and then handed over to officials of the National Committee for Transportation Safety.

The Lion Air plane JT610 crashed some 15 minutes after taking off from Jakarta and en route to Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Province, on Monday morning.

The aircraft departed from Jakarta at 6:20 a.m. local time and was scheduled to arrive in Pangkalpinang at 7:05 a.m. local time, according to the Depati Amir Airport authority in Pangkalpinang.

Before it lost contact, the aircraft had sought permission to return to Jakarta due to a problem.

The aircraft carried 178 adult passengers, three infants, six crew members, as well as a pilot of Indian nationality and a co-pilot.

Reporting by Juwita
Editing by Azis Kurmala, Rahmad Nasution

Reporter: Azis Kurmala
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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