Air Force starts crash probe

BOGOR: An Air Force team has begun its investigation into the crash of a Sikorsky S-58T Twin Pack helicopter at the Atang Sanjaya airfield in Semplak, Bogor, on Oct. 30, which left seven Air Force members dead.

The commander of the airfield, Col. Teuku Djohan, said on Monday that the investigation began last Wednesday.

"The team is led by Operation Command I assistant Col. Boy. The wreckage of the helicopter is being stored at the airfield for examination," he told The Jakarta Post.

The helicopter, which had been in service since 1973 and just received a 100-hour maintenance inspection in the West Java capital of Bandung, crashed while on a test flight.

Air Force chief Marshall Chappy Hakim has ordered all helicopters of the same type to be grounded until the investigation is completed. -- JP