Team to probe chopper crash

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The Indonesian military (TNI) headquarters in Jakarta will send a team of investigators to Maluku to probe the most recent of a series of helicopter accidents to befall the country in the last month.

The team will investigate the causes behind the crash and report it to the TNI headquarters back in Jakarta for further follow up, said Capt. Kuwat, the spokesman of Wirasakti military command in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

The Army's Bell 412 helicopter went down on Tuesday on Wetar island in the regency, around five minutes after taking off from a soccer field. Prominent persons aboard the chopper all escaped serious injury, including Maluku Governor Albert Larahalu and Pattimura military commander Maj. Gen. Syarifuddin. -- JP