"The most important thing is that the safety and security of passengers must be number one," he stated in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Safety is the main factor that must be taken into account in the aviation industry, he added.
The Transportation Ministry issued the ban after a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft crashed in Ethiopia recently, killing all 157 people on board. The crash came less than six months after a similar aircraft went down in the Java Sea last October, killing 189 people.
The Indonesian government took the policy as part of the effort to ensure that all aircraft operating in the country are airworthy.
During the inspection period, which started on March 12, 2019, Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft are banned from flying in the country.
The Transportation Ministry has inspected the operation of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in the country after the crash of Lion Air JT 610 flight last October.
Reporting by Hanni Sofia, Suharto
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
