CANBERRA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Trade Minister has apologized for "insensitively" announcing an increase in the number flights between Australia and Indonesia on the same day as the ten year anniversary of a Garuda Indonesia crash which killed five Australians.
In Indonesia on a trade mission promoting tourism and investment between the two nations, Trade Minister Steve Ciobo on Tuesday announced flight capacity on Garuda Indonesia services between the two nations would increase by 13 percent in 2017 -- ten years to day after a Garuda Boeing 737 jet overran the runway at Yogyakarta, killing 21 people including five Australians.
In a message posted to social media platform, Twitter overnight, Ciobo said he regrets the timing of the announcement.
"I apologize for the insensitivity of an announcement today -- a day when we should be remembering those killed and injured 10 years ago," Ciobo posted to social media overnight.
On March 7, 2007, a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737 overshot the Yogyakarta airport runway, killing 21 people. Among the deceased were five Australians; a journalist, a member of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), an AusAID official and two Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers.
The poorly-timed government announcement was brought to attention by Canberra press gallery journalist Philip Coorey, who said it was mystifying how the government could not recognize the gaffe.
"(Ten) years ago today, Garuda pilot Marwoto Komar, flying way too fast, rammed his plane into the runway," Coorey said.
"It bounced three times before stopping in a rice paddy and bursting into flames, killing 21 and maiming dozens more people, including Australian federal police, journalists and departmental staff.
"We lost friends and colleagues, and others were terribly injured. So what does the government do? While Turnbull is in Jakarta marking the event, it releases this."
