'Chopper crash not human error'

YOGYAKARTA: Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshall Hanafie Asnan asserted here on Tuesday that human error was not the cause of Saturday's crash of the presidential guards' helicopter in a paddy field in Kertasari village, Ciamis, West Java.

The cause would only be determined after a special investigation team completed its work at the crash site, he said, adding he was awaiting the results.

"The complete results will be announced as soon as possible," he said here after officiating at a ceremony marking the transfer of duty of the governor of the Air Force Academy.

He said a report from Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base declared the helicopter safe for flying.

The aircraft experienced engine trouble as it was about to begin its approach to land at Galuh Stadium in Ciamis, but the pilot was still able to find a safe landing area, Hanafie said.

"Thus, we were relieved as the chopper could land in a safe place, and not harm the local people or cause more serious damage," he said.

The helicopter, which took off from the West Java capital of Bandung, home to Husein Sastra Negara Air Force Base in Ciamis district, carried five passengers, a co-pilot, mechanic and two crew members.

The passengers were Brig. Gen. Aritonang, Brig. Gen. Soenarto, Budiono, Sgt. Suwandi, and Sgt. Indra, while the four others were Maj. Supit, Sgt. Agus, Capt. Hikmah and Maj. Wieko. They were set to observe preparations for the official visit of President B.J. Habibie to Darussalam Islamic boarding school this week.

Meanwhile, the post of the Air Force Academy governor was transferred from Rear Marshall Chappy Hakim to First Marshall Gaharudin Gunawan.

Hakim will be promoted to the position of personnel assistant of the Air Force chief of staff. Gunawan was previously expert staff in aerospace affairs to the Air Force chief of staff.