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)