The Japanese police have recommended that criminal charges be brought against the captain of a Garuda Indonesia McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 that crashed at Fukuoka Airport in June 1996, killing three passengers and injuring 170 people.
Prosecutors are being asked to charge Ronald Londong with "professional negligence leading to death and injury" and with "violating laws-causing danger to a flight". Possible sentences range from eight years in jail, with forced labour, to a ´520,000 ($4,200) fine.
A final crash report issued by the Japanese Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission blamed the captain's "inadequate" judgement when, following an engine failure, he opted to abort take-off after the aircraft had passed the critical VR rotation speed.
Source: Flight International
