Bad weather caused chopper crash: TNI

Tiarma Siboro and Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Banda Aceh

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has blamed bad weather in Aceh for causing the helicopter crash on Tuesday, in which eight soldiers were killed.

Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Wednesday the ill- fated Bell 205 chopper was among the TNI's aging aircraft, but it was fit to fly.

"The helicopter was checked before the flight. It was poor weather that caused the accident," Ryamizard said on the sidelines of a gathering of senior and former Army officers in South Jakarta.

Aceh military commander Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya, speaking in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, while supervising the return of the soldiers' remains, said the crash took place amid thick fog and a heavy downpour.

"The pilot may have gotten lost from poor visibility before the chopper crashed in Sukatani village in Juli Bireuen district," Endang said.

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) had previously claimed to have shot down the United States-made aircraft, which was purchased by the Army in 1974.

Bireuen, where the chopper crashed, is among those regencies that have seen heavy and frequent gunfights between the TNI and GAM since last May, when the state of civil emergency was imposed.

"The claim is nonsense. The crash would have not happened if the soldiers had been flying a new helicopter," Ryamizard said.

Ryamizard said another military helicopter was a few minutes ahead of the ill-fated chopper, and had landed safely in Lhokseumawe.

The eight soldiers were heading to Banda Aceh after attending a meeting in Takengon to evaluate the implementation of civil emergency.

Ryamizard said TNI headquarters had set up a team to investigate the accident -- the second involving a military helicopter since last May.

In April 2003, a Bolco helicopter made an emergency landing in Tanah Pasir district, North Aceh, after developing an engine problem. It ignited upon setting down, but all three passengers onboard survived with only minor injuries.

The soldiers killed in Tuesday's crash are: Lt. Col. Suparman, Maj. Yocehi Rantesalu, pilot Maj. Heru Irianto, copilot Second Lt. Engkus Kuswara, Second Lt. Yudha Dwiyono, Second Sgt. Irawan, and technicians Chief Sgt. Sulaiman and Second Sgt. Yarzun.

Their remains were flown back to their hometowns on Wednesday.