The China Eastern Airlines crash involving a Boeing 737-800 aircraft is considered the safest type. Recently, a Boeing 737-800 operated by China Eastern Airlines crashed in Guangxi, China on Monday, March 21, 2022 yesterday. As a result, as many as 123 passengers and 9 crew members died.

This aircraft is widely used by airlines in the world, including Indonesia.

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) calculates that almost all major airlines in the country operate the Boeing 737-800 type of passenger aircraft, including those owned by major airlines.

Director-General of Air Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Novie Riyanto, said that almost all airlines have Boeing 737-800. Around 120 aircraft are operated by Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Lion Air, and Sriwijaya Air.

Airplane accident
If you look at previous records, the Boeing 737-800 has been involved in 22 plane crashes, of which 10 were fatal. Novie said that the Ministry of Transportation was sorry for the crash of the China Eastern Airlines plane in the southern part of China.

Although the cause of the accident is still unknown, the Ministry of Transportation is currently monitoring the Boeing 737-800. Several airlines that operate Boeing 737-800 aircraft are also still given permission to fly in Indonesia as usual, both to serve passenger and cargo flights.

"The checking process continues as usual, as part of a periodic audit conducted by the Ministry of Transportation," said Novie to Liputan6.com, 22 March 2022

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, Adita Irawati, stated that the government will continue to monitor the movement of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft while waiting for the results of the investigation of the accident in China.

Safety Aspects
On the other hand, Garuda Indonesia, which operates the Boeing 737-800, is currently conducting intensive coordination with aviation authorities, both the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation and the manufacturing sector.

President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra, said that a layered and continuous inspection procedure for vital and supporting features of the airworthiness of the Boeing 737-800 NG has been carried out. It also refers to aviation safety regulations.

"We are trying to optimize the governance of safety aspects in Garuda flight operational services," he explained to CNBC Indonesia, 22 March 2022.

This is to ensure the condition of the aircraft is in prime and optimal condition when it will fly. Likewise with training and assessment of pilots.

Irfan said Garuda Indonesia routinely went through a pilot proficiency check on the Boeing 737-800 NG simulator to ensure the capabilities of the flight crew regarding safety mitigation. Including an understanding of the function of each system in flight operations on each type of fleet.

"This is to maintain the security and safety aspects of aviation as the main priority focus of aviation services," he said.