12 Lion Air Pilots Questioned Over Last Month's Strike
Jakarta. Police announced that they have questioned 12 people in connection with the strike by Lion Air pilots that occurred on 10 May.
The 12, who are all pilots employed by the budget carrier, have been reported for violating the criminal code on defamation and slander.
"Twelve witnesses have been examined on May 13, after they were reported by [Lion Air's lawyer] Harris Arthur Hedar," Jakarta Police spokesman Comr. Martinus Sitompul said on Monday (06/06).
The pilots allegedly refused to fly in protest after reportedly not receiving their salaries on time, leaving thousands of passengers stranded for up to 24 hours at airports across the archipelago.
"They have allegedly been spreading false information when giving their reasons for the strike, as Lion Air management had not paid their transportation money," Martinus said.
Following the strike, the transport ministry's director general of air transportation, Suprasetyo, issued a notice suspending the airline from adding new routes for six months.
The incident has since tainted Lion Air's reputation, and it has been slammed by the Indonesian Consumer Protection Foundation (YLKI). The low-cost carrier has also been criticized for frequent flight delays and its management of ground-handling operations.
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