Police Chief Commence Maximum Search Effort Over Missing Helicopter

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo on Monday said the search for the missing helicopter and crew of the air and sea police unit (Polairud) will be maximized. The helicopter lost contact earlier today over the waters of Belitung on Monday, November 28, 2022.

He insists that the search and evacuation of the missing crews are conducted by the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and local coastal residents nearby the possible crash site. 

"Currently, the search continues from the National Police themselves using the ships and helicopters that we have, then assisted by Basarnas, the Navy, and several community ships," said the Police Chief in a press release, Monday, November 28, 2022.

So far, the search team discovered a life jacket and seats that are believed to have come from the P-1103 helicopter. The SAR team also found a body that is believed to be one of the crews in the missing helicopter. 

“We surely hope that the helicopter’s entire crew that have not been found can be found soon,” he said. 

Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo asserts that the loss of the helicopter and its crew is a devastating loss for the entire police institution. The missing helicopter was previously struck by bad weather on its way from the Pangkalan Bun airbase to the Pondok Cabe airbase.

HAMDAN CHOLIFUDIN ISMAIL

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