Private companies involved in the demonstration flight for the ill-fated Sukhoi Superjet 100 that crashed in Mt. Salak revealed that a number of irregularities had plagued the program from its inception.

PT Indo Asia Ground Utama, a local agent of the Russian-based Sukhoi Air Corp. Company has denied any involvement in arranging the flight clearance for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 which crashed on May 9 killing all 45 people on board.

The company’s operational manager Agung Baktiono said that the firm had arranged both an entrance permit and a flying permit for a Sukhoi Superjet 100 No. 97005 and not the No. 97004 that crashed.

“We did arrange all of the permits for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 No. 97005 but not the one that crashed in the accident in Bogor. However, I don’t have details on this because our general director, Rully Darmawan, who was among the victims ...