Two in chopper crash found dead

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A 16-member rescue team has recovered a body and a human head from an Army helicopter crash site in Paniai regency, Papua, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Spokesman for the Trikora (Papua) Military Regional Command Maj. G.P. Situmorang confirmed to Antara that the rescue team had discovered a body and the head of one of the three missing passengers.

He identified the body as that of Sgt. Magito. The head, however, could not be identified. It might be that of pilot Second Lt. Yadi or mechanic Chief Sgt. Keman.

The remains of both victims have been taken to Timika.

Situmorang said the rescue team, led by Maj. Joko Mulyadi, was assisted by local residents who led the team to the crash site on Mount Wayai, near Ukabiu village, Wagete district.

Several helicopters were also deployed to support the search.

The rescue team also found two burned SNC guns and one SN .46 pistol.

The accident occurred on Saturday when the five-crew Bell 205 helicopter, carrying supplies from Timika to Paniai regency, experienced turbulence. The pilot tried to control the helicopter and return to Timika, but the rear end became entangled in trees.

Two managed to escape from the helicopter before it exploded. The two -- Second Lt. Ikhwan and Second Lt. Teddy Prabowo -- survived the accident.

Situmorang said that if the weather permitted it, the rescue team would continue the search operation until it had found the bodies of the remaining two.

If the two missing bodies could be found, Situmorang said, the bodies of all the dead would be sent to Jakarta with full military honors.

The body of pilot Yadi would be flown to Padang, West Java, while those of Magito and Kaman would be sent to Semarang, Central Java.