Crash pilot gets two years' jail for negligence

YOGYAKARTA - An Indonesian pilot has been sentenced to two years' jail over a crash which killed 21 people, including five Australians.

Marwoto Komar was in control of the Garuda Indonesia plane when it slammed onto the runway at Yogyakarta airport, careered into a field and burst into flames on March 7, 2007.

After a long trial, the Sleman District Court in Yogyakarta last night found Komar guilty of criminal negligence, and sentenced him to two years' jail. He intends to appeal.

In a majority verdict, the court found Komar could have taken steps to avert the disaster, but failed to do so.

"In the landing stages the defendant was not careful, and should have co-ordinated better with his co-pilot," one of the five judges said.

"This is how the defendant's negligence has caused the accident."

Scores of people, including relatives of those who perished in the crash, packed into the small courtroom to hear the verdict.

Caroline Mellish, sister of Australian Financial Review journalist Morgan Mellish, who died in the crash, said two years' jail was not enough.

"I don't feel that justice has been served," she said outside the court.

- AAP