Mandala Airlines Boeing 737 Crash In Medan, Sumatra,
Indonesia
Summary of Accident
On September 5, 2005, a Mandala Airlines
Boeing 737-200 crashed immediately after takeoff at the
airport in Medan, a city in northeast Sumatra. The Indonesian
jetliner was headed to Jakarta in overcast weather when
it slammed into a crowded neighborhood moments after a
shaky takeoff Monday and burst into flames, killing 147
people, including persons on the ground. The plane was
carrying 116 passengers and crew, of which reportedly 15
survived the disaster.
The Mandala Airlines' crash follows
five major airline accidents in August, the deadliest month
for plane disasters since May 2002. Some 334 people died
last month in accidents in Peru, Venezuela, Greece and
Tunisia. An Air France plane also overshot a Toronto runway
and caught fire, but no one died.
Accident Investigation (as of 7 September
2005)
Investigators have stated that engine
failure could be to blame for Mandala Airlines' Boeing
737-200 crash, after found a damaged fan blade in the plane's
wreckage. "We found that the fan blade engine was
in a damaged condition visually. We also found that the
three screw jack actuators came loose from a flap and the
wing," Setio Raharjo, who heads a team of investigators
from the National Transportation Safety Committee. However,
Raharjo told reporters that it is too early to reach a
conclusion and warned that analysis of the 'black box'
flight recorders will take time.
The Legal Rights of Families Whose
Loved Ones Die in Airplane Disasters
We appreciate that this is a time
of deep pain and grieving for the spouses, children and
families of the passengers and crew who died in the Mandala
Airlines crash. As time passes, you may have questions
concerning how and why the crash occurred, your legal rights,
compensation that is available to you, and the duties and
legal responsibility of the airplane operator and manufacturer.
For answers to frequently asked questions concerning aviation
accidents, please click here.
Contact an Attorney at Lieff Global
Passengers who were injured and
families whose loved ones died in this crash are welcome
to contact Lieff Global to learn more about their legal
rights without any charge or obligation. Please send
us an e-mail message. Alternatively, you may telephone
us at 415 788-8000 and request to speak to attorney Lexi
Hazam.
About Lieff Global, LLP
Lieff Global, LLP, is an AV-rated law firm with
offices in San Francisco and affiliate offices worldwide. Lieff Global
grew out of the rapid expansion of the international and aviation practices
at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, which Robert L. Lieff founded in 1972. Lieff Global represents survivors and families of victims who died in domestic and international aviation and maritime accidents, as well as foreign citizens in other types of actions.
Lieff Global is uniquely positioned to answer your questions and represent your interests. Our attorneys have over forty years of experience litigating airplane crash cases worldwide. We have relationships with the foremost experts in the fields of aviation safety and disaster analysis. Learn more...
Contact Us
Families whose loved ones died in the Mandala Airlines, Adam Air or Garuda Airlines crashes are welcome to contact a lawyer at Lieff Global to learn more about their legal rights. We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions free of charge and without obligation.
