Mother of JT610 flight attendant tells of ‘omen’
The grieving mother of a flight attendant aboard Lion Air flight JT610 that crashed into the Java Sea on Monday morning claimed to have seen an “omen” of the deadly accident.
On Saturday afternoon, two days before the accident, Sukartini found that a zebra dove had fallen into a water tank located on the second floor of her house. She saved the bird and put it in a cage, never thinking that this, she said, could be an omen for her only daughter, Alfiani Hidayati Solikah.
“The bird is still alive,” Sukartini said, as quoted by kompas.com.
Sukartini revealed her story while receiving Madiun Regent Ahmad Dawami at her home on Monday evening. The house was filled with family members, all waiting anxiously for news on the 19-year-old flight attendant.
In the living room, there was a picture of Alfiani on the wall, showing her in a flight attendant's uniform, with her parents. Alfiani had only been working as a flight attendant for two months.
The TV was switched off. Alfiani’s father Slamet chose not to watch the news. Instead, he waited for official news from the government.
“I was watching the TV earlier. I just couldn't stand it anymore,” said Slamet to tribunnews.com.
Ahmad told the family that the government was ready to help. He also warned the family not to believe news that had not been verified and to wait for official news.
The Lion Air flight JT610 was en route to Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands province from Jakarta when it crashed into the Java Sea, 7 nautical miles north of Tanjung Bungin, Karawang. The plane was carrying 189 people, comprising 181 passengers, two pilots and six crew members.