JAKARTA - Indonesia's Transport Minister removed on Wednesday (Oct 31) the technical director of Lion Air airlines and several of its technicians after the crash of one of its jets with 189 people on board, the Antara news agency reported.

"Today we will replace Lion's technical director with somebody else, along with engineers being in charge of and recommending the flight," Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said, according to Detik news.

He told reporters that the dismissal of the director would ease the investigation process.

"All matters related to the investigation will be reported to the National Transportation Safety Committee and it will determine what's next to do," he said, in comments that were broadcast by Kompas TV.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo has asked Indonesia's Transportation Ministry to tighten safety management measures for transportation of air passengers.

It was not clear whether the removal of Lion Air's technical director and the technicians was permanent or temporary.

Lion Air's chief executive, Mr Edward Sirait, told Reuters he had not heard of the minister's order.