Ministers unhurt in chopper scare

JAKARTA (JP): Two cabinet ministers and other officials escaped unhurt yesterday when their helicopter made an emergency landing at an airport in Banda Aceh, Aceh.

The Puma helicopter was carrying Minister of Health Sujudi and Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan, and was one of several carrying officials and ministers traveling with President Soeharto's entourage in the westernmost province.

Antara reported no-one was hurt in the incident.

Soeharto and the ministers returned to Jakarta later in the day after visiting Aceh for a ceremony involving a village improvement organization.

Chief Air Force spokesman Col. Mirsyahban Ashfa told The Jakarta Post the helicopter, navigated by Capt. Bagyono, had returned to Sultan Iskandar Muda airport 15 minutes after takeoff at 9:43 a.m.

He could not confirm the release of smoke from the helicopter on its return to the airport, as reported by Sgt. Loba Toruan at Medan's military district command.

Antara quoted airline officials as saying the helicopter had made an emergency landing because of engine trouble shortly after takeoff. No further details were given.

Officials denied an earlier report from airport sources that passengers had included Soeharto's daughter-in-law, Halimah, wife of his second son Bambang Trihatmodjo.

"President Soeharto was not aboard the Puma helicopter but in the Super Puma helicopter," Mirsyahban said.

Sumardi, director of public relations at the Ministry of Health, confirmed Sujudi and Ibrahim were safe.

He said Sujudi had called from Aceh to notify ministry officials there had been a technical problem with the helicopter, but that the minister had kept to his schedule with Soeharto and his entourage. (01)