Return to Jakarta

I was honored to speak at the Aviner Aviation Conference at Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma in Jakarta this November. As always, the Indonesian people were welcoming and hospitable.

My connection with Indonesia began in 2019 when I represented dozens of victim families in the crash of the two Boeing Max 8 planes. The first crash was just outside Jakarta. The second crash, a few months later, was in Ethiopia.

In prior blog posts, I’ve discussed these crashes in detail and many media outlets have dug into this from a variety of angles, including this cover story. At the conference, I focused on the big picture. Boeing let the company focus shift from engineering excellent to corporate profits. Safety suffered as a result.

Many of us thought Boeing learned its lesson after 348 people died in the two crashes of the Max 8 planes. So we were shocked on a number of levels when, more recently, a door plug blew out of a Max 9 at 16,000 feet. My firm represents 35 of those passengers and we find ourselves once again fighting not only for justice and accountability, but for improved quality control and safety.

As I discussed the success of our legal cases in the United States with the Indonesian audience, I was reminded of what an advanced system of justice we have in our country. Boeing, one of the most rich and powerful corporations in the world, has been held accountable. There are many countries where a company with Boeing’s influence could buy its way out of trouble, but the cliche is true — nobody is above the law in the U.S.A. I’m grateful to practice law here.

In addition to the conference, I took the opportunity to see friends, visit sites, and generally enjoy the geniality of the Indonesian people. Living in hotels periodically has become part of my job and there are no hotels in the world with better service and friendlier staff than in Jakarta.

Indonesia, a country made up of thousands of islands, has a population of about 270 million. The work ethic is strong and the economy is growing. According to the World Bank, “Indonesia’s current economic performance reflects its strong fundamentals and sound policy response.” I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I know Indonesia’s future is bright.

While in Indonesia, I try to read up on the country’s history and also check out some of the fiction as I believe novels and short stories tell us as much or more about a country than history books.

One of Indonesia’s more famous authors, Andrea Hirata, has been to the International Writer’s Workshop at the University of Iowa. Another Indonesian writer I read, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, is also an economist and historian. I recommend his novel, “It’s Not an All Night Fair.” Indonesian literature, like all literature, reminds us of our commonalities.

Finally, I have to add that it’s a relatively short flight from Jakarta to Bali. My counsel to you is this: visit Jakarta, explore the city, and then take a few days off in famous Bali and read on the beach.