"The families of six SilkAir crash victims suing the airline are not out to prove that pilot-suicide caused the plane to crash near Palembang, Indonesia, on Dec 19, 1997.
They want to show instead that the tragedy was probably caused by the cockpit crew - either Captain Tsu Way Ming or co- pilot Duncan Ward.
Senior Counsel Michael Khoo, representing 15 family members of the victims suing SilkAir, told Justice Tan Lee Meng yesterday: 'It was never part of our case that Captain Tsu Way Ming had committed suicide and Your Honour is not required to make a finding of fact on suicide.'
The plaintiffs hoped that if the court found that the crash was probably caused by some 'input' from the cockpit, it would serve to warn all airlines of the need to monitor pilot performance more closely, monitor breach of safety procedures by pilots more carefully and take remedial action against them more seriously, in the interest of the safety of air travellers."
Hence, Michael Khoo is avoiding the topic on suicide.