As rescue team continue to search for a missing AirAsia flight, it's emerged that the EU banned all Indonesian airlines in 2007 amid fears over the ability of its government to monitor safety standards. The ban lasted for three years.
Since the ban was lifted, only four of the 51 Indonesian carriers who were black-listed have been re-authorized to fly to the EU - including AirAsia Indonesia.
The Federal Aviation Administration in the United States has also raised concerns over the safety records of the country's airlines - in 2013 it judged Indonesia's aviation industry as being not in compliance with international safety standards.
Recent incidents
- April 2013 - A new Boeing 737-800 that was operated by Lion Air, a budget Indonesian carrier, crashed near Bali - hitting the ocean short of a runway while landing in heavy rain. Of the 108 people on board, all survived and none were injured. This was Lion Air's seventh accident in 11 years.
- May 2012 - A Sukhoi Superjet-100 crashed into the side of a volcano during a demonstration flight in Indonesia. Of the 45 passengers, none survived.
- January 2007 - A Boeing 737 operated by Indonesia’s Adam Air disappeared on New Year's Day with 102 people on board. Part of the aircraft was found several days later, and it was nearly nine months before the flight recorder was recovered. It crashed into the Makassar Strait, killing 102 people.
- September 2005 - A flight operated by Indonesia's now defunct Mandala Airlines set for Bali crashed into a heavily populated residential area moments after takeoff. 100 passengers were killed, as well as 49 people on the ground. 17 people on the plane survived.
After AirAsia's flight QZ 8501 went missing, the Indonesian Transport minister Ignasius Jonan commented on the incident, saying: "We will review AirAsia Indonesia to make sure its performance can be better in the future."
