Pilot error blame for Indonesian jetliner crash-landed in March killing 21 people

The pilot of an Indonesian jetliner that crash-landed in March killing 21 people ignored repeated warnings that he was approaching the runway too fast and should circle around again, an investigation found.

The Boeing 737-400 skidded off the runway at the Yogyakarta airport and plowed into a ricefield before bursting into flames. It was the fourth accident involving a commercial jetliner in Indonesia since 2005.

Tatang Kurniadi, the chief of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the final probe concluded that pilot error was to blame.

"His attention was fixated ... on landing the aircraft and he either did not hear or disregarded the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerts and warnings," the investigator said, adding that the pilot also ignored calls by the co-pilot to circle around again.

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Author`s name Angela Antonova
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