Two people killed in helicopter crash<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A Pelita Air Service NBO-105 helicopter crashed
\nand burned in Blang Dalam village in the Pidie regency of Aceh on
\nSaturday, killing two people and seriously injuring another,
\nAntara reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
Those killed were pilot Bambang Gatot and loadmaster Supardi,
\nwhile the injured person was identified as mechanic Sutanto.<\/p>\n
Supardi's body was found in the cockpit but Bambang and
\nSutanto were both thrown out of the helicopter, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Bambang's and Gatot's bodies arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma
\nairbase in Jakarta yesterday on a Pelita F-100 aircraft. They
\nwill be buried today.<\/p>\n
Bambang died on the way to hospital in North Sumatra capital
\nof Medan Saturday and Sutanto is still under intensive medical
\ncare at the Elizabeth hospital in that city.<\/p>\n
The helicopter was chartered by the Jakarta-based gold mining
\ncompany PT Miwah Tambang Emas and was flying to its plant in
\nGeumpang on the border of Aceh Barat and Pidie regencies.<\/p>\n
The helicopter was carrying survey equipment and left Medan's
\nPolonia airport at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday. It crashed at 9.35
\na.m., about 25 minutes before it was scheduled to land.<\/p>\n
Pelita officials said the cause of the accident was still
\nunder investigation. Eyewitnesses said the helicopter crashed and
\nexploded in the jungle after the rotors stopped.<\/p>\n
\"We will find out what caused the accident,\" Chief of the
\nPidie Police District Lt. Col. Kamil Fahmi said.<\/p>\n
He said the helicopter deviated from its usual route, possibly
\nbecause of the weather.<\/p>\n
On Saturday the helicopter took the shortest route because the
\npilot thought the weather was good, he said quoting an official
\nfrom PT Miwah Tambang Emas Sigli, 112 kilometers east of Banda
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
The weather in North Sumatra and neighboring Aceh has been
\nrough lately and could be dangerous for light aircraft and
\nhelicopters, according to Kamil. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-people-killed-in-helicopter-crash-1447893297",
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