JAKARTA, Indonesia — Rescuers pulled mangled body parts out of the Java Sea on Monday as officials here scrambled to uncover what went wrong on a nearly brand-new Boeing jet operated by Lion Air that crashed, likely killing all 189 onboard.
No clear explanation has emerged about what had caused the crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff. Skies were clear. The Boeing 737 Max 8 had been in service for two months and had flown just 800 hours.
The aircraft’s pilot had asked to return to Jakarta’s airport shortly after takeoff, and his request was cleared by air traffic controllers. The plane then lost contact with controllers and plunged into the sea from 3,000 feet.
Authorities quickly launched a search-and-rescue mission but later said they did not expect to find any survivors. Throughout the day Monday, rescuers pulled debris out of the sea, including parts of the aircraft’s fuselage, ID cards and bags belonging to the passengers. Bodies and body parts were being recovered and sent to a hospital for identification.
People at an offshore refining facility nearby also found remnants of the aircraft, including plane seats, in the water. Officials said they have received no confirmation that anyone survived.
“My prediction is that no one has survived, because none of the victims have been found” intact, said Bambang Suryo Aji, the national search-and-rescue agency’s