Air Force probes helicopter crash

JAKARTA: The Air Force has formed a special team to investigate the helicopter crash in the West Java town, Subang, that resulted in the death of a crewman on Tuesday.

Spokesman for the Air Force Commodore Eddy Harjoko told Antara on Wednesday that the team comprised the Air Force flight and safety at work department, education and other related units.

"The team will find out the cause of the accident, whether it be human error, the weather, lack of maintenance, or other reasons as yet unknown," he said.

He added the Bell-47 helicopter was on a routine exercise flight when it developed an engine problem.

"At around 1 p.m., the helicopter had to make an emergency landing near the military airstrip, but apparently it crash- landed, killing the co-pilot instantly," he said.

Police sources said earlier that the co-pilot, identified only as 1st Lt. Judi, was decapitated by the still-moving rotors when he tried to check the engine. --Antara