"MA-60 was in a save condition. But if it has been proven that the crash was due to technical errors I am ready to resign," he said after a hearing with Commission XI of the House of Representatives in Jakarta Tuesday.
He made the statement in response to inquiries from some circles that the MA-60 plane built by Xian China Air Craft lacked quality.
He said that technically, an MA-60 is quite good, and Xian also has a good reputation.
"China has started building aircraft in 1953, much earlier than PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI). So, please do not be so quick in making speculations on the causes of the plane`s crash," he said.
He also suggested that in the accident of a plane not so quickly put the blame on the ill-fated aircraft.
"Even Boeings and Airbuses had accidents, and not all the planes of these types had to stop operating," he said.
He also said that the real cause of the MA-60 crash which killed 23 people on board is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Committee KNKT).
"Let us wait for the result of the recorded convensations in the black box which will be brought to China for the chronological readings of the causes of the crash and further investigation," he pointed out.
On the occasion, Jhony who himself was a professional pilot of Ettihad airlines asked certain circles to stop making further comments on the accident.
"Information circulating in the public is not always the truth and harmed Merpati`s interest. It is true that the airline company was depressed because of the past mistakes of the management, but please stop adding comments which are really hurting us," he said.
PT Merpati in 2006 made a deal with Xian Aircraft for the procurement of 15 MA-60 planes, in which the Indonesian government asked for a loan of 1.8 billion reminbi yuans, the equivalent of Rp2.1 trillion which was handed to Merpati as payment for the aircraft.
In 2007 because the government has made a funding decision, Merpati received only 2 units of MA-60 planes under a lease.
Then in December 2010 another 11 units had been approved in the 2010 State Budget.
The remaining 2 units were scheduled to come to Indonesia on May 19 and 20, 2011. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
