The crash of SilkAir Flight 185 is a tragedy that shook the world and raised many questions about airline safety. The circumstances surrounding the crash are still the subject of controversy and debate to this day. The incident occurred on December 19, 1997, when the Boeing 737-300 aircraft was on its way from Jakarta, Indonesia to Singapore. There were 97 passengers and seven crew members on board. All 104 people lost their lives when the plane crashed into the Musi River.
The investigation into the crash was conducted by two agencies: the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) and the American National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSC was unable to determine the cause of the crash due to inconclusive evidence, while the NTSB concluded that the crash was caused by deliberate flight control inputs, most likely by the captain. However, the jury under the Superior Court in Los Angeles, which was not allowed to hear or consider the NTSB conclusions, decided that the crash was caused by a faulty servo valve inside the Power Control Unit (PCU) which controls the rudder, causing a rudder hard-over and subsequent uncontrollable crash.
The controversy over the cause of the crash has led to much speculation, including the possibility of pilot suicide. However, no conclusive evidence has been found to support this theory. The families of the victims, the manufacturer of the aircraft’s rudder controls, and SilkAir reached an out-of-court settlement in 2002.
The SilkAir Flight 185 tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of airline safety and the need for continued improvement in the industry. It also highlights the complex nature of air crash investigations, which involve multiple agencies and often take years to complete. In the aftermath of the tragedy, changes were made to improve safety measures, including the implementation of a more robust flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.
While the cause of the SilkAir Flight 185 crash remains controversial, one thing is clear: the loss of life was a devastating blow to the families of the victims and a tragedy that will not be forgotten. As we continue to fly, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.
