Ministers unhurt in chopper scare

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)