Last two bodies from chopper crash found

Last two bodies from chopper crash found

JAKARTA (JP): Search teams discovered yesterday the bodies of
the last two missing people aboard the police helicopter which
crashed Wednesday in South Sumatra.

"The bodies of co-pilot Lt. Eko and passenger Murod were found
floating on a nearby river," Col. Ivan Sihombing, an officer of
the South Sumatra police force, told Antara in Palembang, South
Sumatra.

The body of the pilot, Capt. Sriono, was found floating on
Jerungau Kecil river Thursday evening.

The only survivor, mechanic Sgt. Zainul, was found in a
critical condition with hand and leg injuries.

He was rescued by a fisherman who found him in the sea near a
river estuary.

"The bodies of the three victims will be flown back to Jakarta
soon," local police spokesman Lt. Col. Sardjo Sajad said.

The wreckage of the ill-fated helicopter is also scheduled to
be taken back to Jakarta for further investigation.

"We thank everyone for their help in finding the victims,"
Sardjo said.

From hospital in Palembang, Zainul said yesterday that the
helicopter tail had exploded as it was flying over jungle in low
visibility conditions.

Zainul's statement confirmed earlier suspicions by South
Sumatra police chief Brig. Gen. Deddi Ganrijadi who said Thursday
that the helicopter may have exploded before it hit the ground.

The police helicopter, No. P-4016, took off at 9. a.m.
Wednesday from Batam Island, in Riau, on route to Palembang,
where it was expected to arrive at 12.30 p.m.

But it lost contact with Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport
in Palembang at 11 a.m.

Thick smog blanketed the province Wednesday with visibility
less than 400 meters.

South Sumatra, Riau and Jambi provinces are among the worst
hit by brush and forest fires.

Haze from the fires has enveloped many parts of the area for
the past few weeks.

Many people have suffered respiratory problems and eye
irritations as a result of the haze, which has also affected
Singapore and Malaysia.

Last month a Garuda Indonesia aircraft with 234 people on
board crashed, killing all on board, minutes before it was due to
land at Polonia Airport in Medan, North Sumatra.

Foreign experts and news agencies have cited the thick haze as
one of the possible causes of the crash. (prb)