Basarnas Reports Missing Helicopter in North Maluku
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21 February 2024 12:51 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is conducting a search after a helicopter rented by the mining company Weda Bay Nickel was reported missing in Central Halmahera, North Maluku province on Tuesday.
The head of Basarnas Ternate Fatur Rahman said that the weather was one of the factors to determine the success of the missing helicopter rescue.
According to Fatur, his personnel coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency or BMKG about the weather this morning to ensure the search for the missing helicopter goes smoothly.
He explained that the Bell 429 PK-WSW helicopter was reported missing on Tuesday at around 01:40 p.m. local time, with two pilots and a passenger onboard. “The pilot had passed an altitude of 2,000 feet,” he said.
At around 01:15 p.m. local time, the pilot reported an explosion to the local landing officer before reportedly losing contact, according to Basarnas.
Fatur said that Basarnas team immediately headed to the location on Tuesday, but was hindered by rain. Today, the search operation resumed with support from the Resort Police, the Regional Disaster Management Agency of Central Halmahera, and the representative from Weda Bay Nickel. Basarnas officers confirmed that the helicopter lost contact in the forest area, at coordinate 0°28'13.47"N /127°56'0.19"E - 0°39'20.54"N /127°58'17.28"E, Central Halmahera.
The Communications Officer of Weda Bat Project, Bilal Sau, said that the helicopter was confirmed lost contact after the Air Traffic Control at Cekel Airport, Central Weda reported it at around 01:16 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
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