YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia: The pilot of an Indonesian passenger jet that crashed last year, killing 21 people, was charged on Thursday with deliberately causing the disaster when he appeared in court.

Marwoto Komar, a former captain from flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, could face life in prison if convicted of the charge. He was named a suspect in February over the March 2007 crash of the Boeing 737 with 140 people on board in the central Java city of Yogyakarta.

Prosecutors Mudin Aresto and Jamin Susanto charged Komar with three counts of negligence and one of deliberately destroying or damaging an aircraft causing death. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The hearing opened with the charges being read out and was then adjourned until August 4 when the defence will get a chance to reply.

Komar’s lawyer Muhammad Assegaf said his client would fight the charges on the grounds that international civil aviation codes rule out criminal liability for pilots in crashes.