Seven killed in Air Force chopper crash

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java

An Indonesian Air Force helicopter crashed on Wednesday onto Atang Sanjaya airfield in Bogor during a test flight, killing all seven people on board, an air force official said.

Air force spokesman Air Commodore Sagom Tambun said the two pilots and five technicians on board the Puma Twin Pack H.3408 helicopter were instantly killed.

The cause of the accident is still being investigated, Sagom said. "But we ruled out bad weather as a possible cause. The sky was clear during the flight," he said.

The seven victims of the ill-fated flight are: pilot Air Force Capt. Andy Wijaya and co-pilot Air Force Capt. Gustaf; and technicians Chief Sgt. Syaefudin, First Sgt. Ipnu Mawardi, Sgt. Maj. Munajat Hadiansyah and Chief Sgt. Bobby Aprianto. All died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Airfield commander Air Force Col. Teuku Djohan said the helicopter crashed at 10:18 a.m. "The flight was taken after the chopper was serviced at the airfield maintenance facility," he told The Jakarta Post over the telephone.

Sources said the pilot was a veteran.

A local resident who witnessed the crash said the craft had been flying for a few minutes before it suddenly fell.

"A few minutes later, I saw a number of Air Force personnel arrive at the crash site and evacuate the victims. They were rushed to a hospital within the airfield compound," the witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Post.

Following the crash, authorities sealed off the air field, and dozens of military personnel were seen standing guard. Air Force officials there remained tight-lipped over the incident.

The bodies of the victims would be laid out for one night at the airfield hospital, and will be buried on Thursday at the Dredet Heroes Cemetery in Bogor.

This year has already seen several fatal helicopter crashes.

On Oct. 4, eight soldiers were killed when a mid-air helicopter stunt off the coast of war-torn Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam went wrong.

The soldiers were hanging from lines suspended beneath the chopper when high winds sent the helicopter plummeting toward the sea. To save the craft, the crew cut the ropes carrying the soldiers.

Earlier this year, three people were killed when a commercial helicopter undertaking a survey flight skid off the helipad of Sahid Jaya Hotel, Central Jakarta, and fell 22 floors into the hotel's swimming pool.

Witnesses said that turbulence might have caused the crash, while police believed that engine problems might have been the primary cause.

As of yet, results of the probe into the hotel crash has not been made public.