Chopper search suspended

Chopper search suspended

BANDUNG, West Java: The search to locate a crashed helicopter
and its three crew members has been suspended after over a week
of searching has proved futile.

The NBell-412 helicopter went missing on Feb. 8.

Head of search and rescue mission Agus Sukarno said on Monday
that the 10-day search ended on Sunday.

The team failed to find the helicopter along with the three
onboard -- pilot Capt. Bobby Daud Ishak, co-pilot Sucahyo Wahyu,
and technician Hendro Jatmiko.

"Based on procedure, the maximum search is seven days. We have
tried to look for them, but failed. So, we've temporarily stopped
the search until there is more accurate data about the location
of the helicopter," Agus told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

He said a search operation has combed several areas including
those around Bandung and Purwakarta.

The helicopter left from Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang,
Central Java and transited in Kalijati, Subang, north of Bandung,
to refuel. It was heading towards Bandung.

The last transmission that fateful day was recorded about 10
minutes before it reached its final destination.(25)