Indonesia Lion Air flight with 189 on board crashes into sea

Tragic.

So sad, RIP to those perished. Although aircraft crashing into sea often results in no survivors, I just hope there is a miracle that leads to some survivors...

Reminder that flying is not totally safe.  Poor passengers and crew.

not sure why disaster agency feels the need to post pictures online - bit distressing for families, no?

Reminder that flying is not totally safe.

No, but still much, much more safe than getting into a car.

Reminder that flying is not totally safe. 

Sure, but you can say the same for driving; actually driving or highway related accidents happen more frequently than flying. Statistically speaking, flying is one of the safest modes of transportation.

But I can understand that aircraft incidents sound scarier and will make many people fear flying.

Although aircraft crashing into sea often results in no survivors,

Does it? Or have I watched too many movies where the airplane is able to sort of stay afloat and some people can escape? With that said, I also rather crash on land.

A 737-MAX 8 doesn't just fall into the ocean. That's one of the most sophisticated pieces of machinery and computer power ever assembled.

I'm very curious about the backstory of the people in the cockpit.

A 737-MAX 8 doesn't just fall into the ocean. That's one of the most sophisticated pieces of machinery and computer power ever assembled.

I'm very curious about the backstory of the people in the cockpit.

Sophistication doesn't mean safety. Especially since we're talking about Indonesia here, I'm willing to be the maintenance history of this aircraft is a bit sketchy.

Does it? Or have I watched too many movies where the airplane is able to sort of stay afloat and some people can escape? With that said, I also rather crash on land.

If its not a controlled ditch then yes its pretty much a 0% chance of survival. Its like crashing into a concrete floor at 500km/h

Terrible tragedy for the victims and their families. Hope the cause is discovered soon.

Indonesia doesn't exactly have an exemplary air safety record - the EU banned several of their carriers for years on safety concerns. The lifting of the ban indicates improvements, but here's hoping they haven't slipped back into some old bad habits.

I was just reading about this on an international news site. It seems as though there are very few (if any) survivors.

What a horrible day, may all those affected be able to find closure and peace eventually.

Indonesia needs to revamp its aviation system completely.

Is this the third crash in 5 years there?

Yes safer than being on the road, but still something more scary about aerial disasters.  Numbers of people?  Fact that you are turning over control to a stranger?  fact it doesn't feel "right" to be up in the air???

" fact it doesn't feel "right" to be up in the air???"

From Midnight Run

Jonathan Mardukas as the 747 is taxiing for takeoff:

"I can't do it! No! I can't! These things go down! These things go down! It's too big! It's too big! It can't go up!"

But indeed they do go up and come back down safely nearly every time, due to impressive engineering and maintenance. I hope we don't find out that the pilot or co-pilot crashed the plane on purpose.

A sad occurance, but coming from Lion Air I cannot express any surprise. They are notorious in the aviation industry. Insufficient training, and poor maintenance is a recipe for disaster.

My most heart felt sympathies and condolences to all that are waiting to hear the stark and cruel reality of the situation.

Pilot and copilot with a combined 11,000 hrs flight experience but how many hours in the 737-MAX 8 which the company just got in mid August?

I hope my partner doesn’t read this. I bought tickets a few weeks ago.

Pilot and copilot with a combined 11,000 hrs flight experience but how many hours in the 737-MAX 8 which the company just got in mid August?

The thrust line has changed from the NG to the MAX as a result of having to move the engines forward and up to accommodate the larger fan diameter. Handling differences have been tuned out by Boeing in the flight control system to make the MAX feel like the NG. This was done so both aircraft (and therefore pilots) could be certified under the same type certificate.

Extra scary when a 2-month-old plane crashes. Pilot error (lack of training on that specific aircraft?), a manufacturing fault, bird strike or other collision, or terrorism? We'll have to wait and see.

I was on Batam island, Indonesia when an A380 that could not have been much older than this plane dropped an engine on a shopping center there.

So much sadness, I grieve for the family and friends of the people on the flight.

ksteerOct. 29  02:20 pm JST

Sophistication doesn't mean safety. Especially since we're talking about Indonesia here, I'm willing to be the maintenance history of this aircraft is a bit sketchy.

Well the maintenance history only goes back to mid August when it was purchased by them. I personally don't know details of their maintenance quality but how much maintenance does one need on such a new plane? This is the very first major incident of this plane type, suggesting it crashed simply because it's based in Indonesia seems kind of harsh, especially when you don't have any facts to back it up.

how much maintenance does one need on such a new plane?

Maintenance is more than just fixing problems. There are several tasks involved with daily upkeep. Having said that, though, does not mean that this aircraft could not have had a problem. In my own work I have had problems with new aircraft.

suggesting it crashed simply because it's based in Indonesia seems kind of harsh, especially when you don't have any facts to back it up.

No facts except a notoriously bad safety record for aviation in Indonesia, and specifically with the air line in question.

A brand new plane like this in the hands of a capable pilot shouldn't just fall out of the sky.

Why not?