Alexandria, VA, January 9, 2008 — The Flight Safety Foundation expressed concern over the prosecution by Indonesian authorities of the pilot of the Garuda flight that crashed in March 2007.
”International standards clearly state that it is not appropriate to pursue criminal charges based on the data collected during a safety investigation,” said FSF President and CEO William R. Voss in a statement released today. “In situations of gross negligence or malfeasance, the judicial authorities need to pursue their own, separate investigation. For the sake of safety and a just culture, safety investigators, plus those who are being investigated, must have complete confidence in the integrity of the process.”
Flight Safety Foundation is a leading proponent of fostering just culture in aviation organizations and has led the charge over the past several years to oppose the criminalization of accident investigations.
“The lives of future passengers depend on the vital safety information that is gathered during an investigation,” Voss continued. “If there is a fear of prosecution, then the parties involved will be less inclined to be open during the investigation process.”
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Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, auditing, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to pursue the continuous improvement of global aviation safety and the prevention of accidents. www.flightsafety.org
Contact: Emily McGee, Director of Communications, 1-703-739-6700, ext. 126; mcgee@flightsafety.org