Where is Lion Air JT610?

[jstar]

This is the flight between Jakarta Soekarno Hatta and Pangkal Pinang close to Sumatra.

The plane took off at 6.20 AM and lost contact at 6.33 this morning.

It doesn't look good.

 

[Puspawarna]

WaPo says:

Indonesian passenger plane with at least 178 on board crashes after takeoff; search-and-rescue operation is underway
A Lion Air passenger plane that took off from Jakarta, Indonesia's largest city, heading for the city of Pangkal Pinang has crashed, according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency. The Boeing 737 MAX 8, which was carrying at least 178 people, disappeared minutes after takeoff, according to flight tracking websites, and a search-and-rescue operation is underway.

Damn.

 

[Chiron]

Apparently the only thing visible from the crash is what looks like an oil slick. The 737 Max 8 is one of the newest models from Boeing.

 

[R Cameron]

One of the newest models and only delivered to Lion 2 months ago. I know next to nothing about aircraft, but based on the young age poor maintenance can likely be ruled out, and weather was reportedly good. Perhaps either human error/intent, or a yet unknown problem with the new model 737.

 

[snpark]

Went down in the sea, all souls lost

 

[snpark]

Could be bird strike since was so soon after take off, but no smoke or fire reported from the witnesses, just that they saw the plane ditch

 

[dafluff]

RIP to all aboard.

 

[Nimbus]

Only debris and oil spill found so far.

 

[R Cameron]

Could be bird strike since was so soon after take off, but no smoke or fire reported from the witnesses, just that they saw the plane ditch

I thought of that too, but they were pretty high, seems very unlikely a flock of birds enough to take out both engines would be flying around that altitude. I've heard some reports there were no mayday calls, which probably means something.

 

[Chiron]

From IndoAviation:

"The aircraft with PK-LQP registration number was reportedly last caught radar at coordinates 05 46.15 S - 107 07.16 E. This aircraft departs at 06.10 WIB and on schedule will arrive in Pangkal Pinang at 07.10 WIB. The plane had requested to return to base (RTB) before finally disappearing from the radar.

The aircraft with the Jakarta-Pangkal Pinang flight route carries 178 adult passengers, 1 child passenger and 2 babies with 2 Pilots and 5 flight attendants."

If the pilots requested RTB (return to base) right before going down, they must have had immediate and serious issues into the climb. Of course we'll have to wait for the official report, but a bird strike (maybe right after takeoff) is in the realm of possibilities.

 

[dafluff]

I thought of that too, but they were pretty high, seems very unlikely a flock of birds enough to take out both engines would be flying around that altitude. I've heard some reports there were no mayday calls, which probably means something.

Also, a bird strike is not consistent with the graph in the video Nimbus posted. It shows a very abnormal take off profile with an early decrease in altitude after 23:22 just after reaching 2000ft, then a climb to around 5000ft where it just seems to struggle for some time, before the final plunge. Below is a graph and a comparison to what a normal take off usually looks like (same flight, the day before).

Caveat: Flightradar only shows what the aircrafts ADS-B is broadcasting, so this data could be meaningless.

 

[snpark]

Yeh I said "could" because seem the only solution left but it was tech since the crew requested return back to airport?

 

[R Cameron]

The plane had requested to return to base (RTB) before finally disappearing from the radar.

That's the first time I've heard that, and it makes me think it was a mechanical failure of some kind. Or a minor bird strike that led to cascading failures over the following several minutes? And as @dafluff pointed out, that graph of the ascent seems very unusual.

 

[atlantis]

RIP.
Another sad news for Indonesia.

 

[jstar]

Although the company states that a repair was done properly (after the flight from Denpasar) and according to procedures, there is a rumor it was about the fuel tank and an engineer has been arrested?!

 

[Bad_azz]

RIP to all those who were lost.
Indonesia has had a tough time of it this year & has been hitting the headlines for all the worst reason, let's hope there is some respite from all the disastrous tragedies.

 

[ChrisTex]

My boss had a picture sent to him from someone he knew of someone who took a selfie before the crash. In the picture, the oxygen masks were deployed.

My Dad also sent me a text making sure I was ok and he said based on what he had read, he doesn't think stalling was the issue, but maybe properly loading the flight computer

 

[jstar]

Lion Air stated it concerned a different (type of) plane.

And the Ministry of Communication (and IT) warns for these hoax messages...Indonesia's social media has quite a track record.

 

[Euc-]

My boss had a picture sent to him from someone he knew of someone who took a selfie before the crash. In the picture, the oxygen masks were deployed.

My Dad also sent me a text making sure I was ok and he said based on what he had read, he doesn't think stalling was the issue, but maybe properly loading the flight computer

This one? Not real, different flight different airline.

 

[harryopal1]

It seems a fellow turned up at the airport ten minutes late for the flight. Six of his friends were aboard.