Psychics help locate missing chopper

JAKARTA (JP): The National Search and Rescue Agency, frustrated after six days of searching for a missing helicopter with 18 people on board in the jungle of East Kalimantan, has turned to the services of psychics.

The rescue agency's chief, Air Force Commodore Harianto, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that while they're at it, the psychics have been asked to locate another helicopter which has been missing since May.

Harianto said his agency has been combing an area local people describe as the "Bermuda Triangle" covering thick jungle between the Kongmemol, Long Nawang and Batu Tikung mountains.

He said over the weekend that his agency is giving itself until Tuesday (tomorrow) before abandoning the search.

The Sikorsky S-5BT helicopter belonging to the private operator PT Air Fast Indonesia went missing on Tuesday after taking off from Tabang. The helicopter, which was hired by a timber company, PT Sumber Daya Alam, lost all contact with the Sepinggan airport in Samarinda five minutes after takeoff.

A helicopter with two people on board also went missing in the same area in May and has not been found to this day. (emb)