[Update 20 November: Lion Air has launched an internal probe following widespread media coverage of allegations of pilot misconduct. They have grounded a co-pilot in connection to the allegations.
Lion Air general affairs director Edward Sirait stated, "The co-pilot has been grounded and banned from flying,"]
Lion Air has denied allegations that one of its airline pilots offered an air hostess to passengers to compensate for a flight delay.
According to Indonesian media reports, the allegations arose from a complaint filed by passenger Lambertus Maengkong to Lion Air and Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation over pilot misconduct.
Lambertus claimed that while he was on board a delayed Lion Air flight from Surabaya to Bali on 14 November, the pilot announced over the PA system that he is offering an air hostess to passengers to compensate for the delay.
Lambertus wrote, “Is that part of the standard procedure when a pilot repeatedly offers an air hostess who is a widow to passengers?”
Part of these allegations is the claim that “strange noises” were blaring through the PA system and coming from the cockpit. Lambertus wrote, “We heard strange noises and moans throughout the flight.”
Lion Air Operations Director Daniel Putut Kuncuro Adi responded, “It’s not true. We don’t know of any complaints like that. All of a sudden the news has spread, especially on social media.”
Lion Air confirmed that while the flight did occur, there were no reports of pilot misconduct and that the complaint from a passenger named Lambertus Maengkong did not exist.
Lion Air general affairs director Edward Sirait stated, "The co-pilot has been grounded and banned from flying,"]
Lion Air has denied allegations that one of its airline pilots offered an air hostess to passengers to compensate for a flight delay.
According to Indonesian media reports, the allegations arose from a complaint filed by passenger Lambertus Maengkong to Lion Air and Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation over pilot misconduct.
Lambertus claimed that while he was on board a delayed Lion Air flight from Surabaya to Bali on 14 November, the pilot announced over the PA system that he is offering an air hostess to passengers to compensate for the delay.
Lambertus wrote, “Is that part of the standard procedure when a pilot repeatedly offers an air hostess who is a widow to passengers?”
Part of these allegations is the claim that “strange noises” were blaring through the PA system and coming from the cockpit. Lambertus wrote, “We heard strange noises and moans throughout the flight.”
Lion Air Operations Director Daniel Putut Kuncuro Adi responded, “It’s not true. We don’t know of any complaints like that. All of a sudden the news has spread, especially on social media.”
Lion Air confirmed that while the flight did occur, there were no reports of pilot misconduct and that the complaint from a passenger named Lambertus Maengkong did not exist.
