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)