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Singapore-Taiwan Tussle Over SQ006 Pilots
JAKARTA (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The three Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilots, survivors of the dramatic crash of the Flight SQ006 in Taipei, Taiwan, a month ago, are still being held by Taiwanese authorities while an investigation continues to be underway.
Taiwan has sent two investigators to Singapore to spearhead a safety investigation into the crash that killed 83 people. The two nations are currently at loggerheads on the fate of the pilots who have received death threats during the aftermath of the crash.
The current deadlock seems to be a tussle between the two investigators sent to Singapore by the Taiwan Aviation Safety Council. One of the Taiwanese investigators wants the three Singapore Airlines pilots of Flight SQ006 to be allowed to go back to Singapore.
The other Taiwanese official, however, insist that the pilots must stay on in Taiwan where they may face criminal charges if found guilty of human error. The International Pilots Association has said that if Taiwan were to proceed with the criminal case against the three pilots of Malaysian origin, it would represent serious breaches in the laws of aviation.
Unfortunately for Captain Foong Chee Kong, and first officers Latiff Cyrano and Ng Kheng Leng, the one who wants to keep them in Taipei is the one who has jurisdiction over their custody. He is Taiwanese chief prosecutor Song Kuo-yeh.
During a press conference in Singapore, the managing director of Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council, Yong Kay, said he was for the pilots' return to Singapore.
''It doesn't matter to us where they are. We can talk to them anywhere,'' said Kay, who is here with a team of eight crash investigators from Taiwan, Australia, the U.S. and Singapore.
''But I would much rather have the pilots in Singapore because it's home. They will be more relaxed here and we may be able to get better information from them,'' he added.
He came to Singapore to study the operations and training procedures of SIA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. This is said to be one of the final queries of the Taiwan authorities before it finalize its report on the crash.
Kay said he does not see the need to interview the three pilots again unless new information crops up. He added that the last time he spoke to them was more than two weeks ago.
However, the Taoyuan Prosecutor's Office, which is conducting its own parallel criminal investigation into the crash, refuses to allow the pilots to return to Singapore despite Kay’s recommendation.
Chief prosecutor Song Kuo-yeh was angered over the recommendation of Kay.
''The prosecutor still needs the three pilots here for the investigation,'' said Song.
''If they return to Singapore, it is no good using the phone to conduct the investigation. Without them, the Taiwanese law cannot take place.''
''The date of their return is not fixed. Must we let them go back to Singapore? Can't we hold them for a period of time?'' he said.
''They piloted a plane which killed so many people. Is it a crime to keep them here in Taiwan?''
Song declined to say if the prosecution had even started interviewing the pilots. He has, in the past, hinted about possibly charging the three pilots with causing death by negligence.
According to Kay, the prosecutors were trying to determine if there was any criminal liability on the part of the pilots.
However, it is reported that the prosecutor could not use the findings of the Air Safety Council's investigation to assist it in to convict the pilots.
''Our job is to try to improve safety, not to place blame or place responsibility for the crash,'' he said. Any evidence to be used in legal proceedings against the pilots would have to be ''based on the prosecutor's own investigations, not this one.''
Singaporeans have showed support for the pilots whom they believe were not responsible for the crash of the plane. Most Singaporean citizens believe the pilots should return to their base of operation and that the case should be closed.
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