Ministry Send Investigation Team over Basarnas Helicopter Crash
4 July 2017 09:42 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Ministry has send a team to investigate the crash of the National SAR Agency (Basarnas) helicopter in Mount Butak, Temanggung District, Central Java.
“We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. The victims died when performing their duties and during a humanitarian mission,” Air Transport Director General Agus Santoso said in a press release.
Read: Black Box of Helicopter Crashed in C. Java Found
According to Agus, the helicopter crashed during an aerial monitoring on the Sileri Crater eruption in Dieng Plateau, Banjarnegara. Following the accident, Agus said that he was ordered by the Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi to send a team.
“Considering that Basarnas helicopter Non-PK registered [registered outside Indonesia], the Transportation Ministry are not qualified [to lead the investigation]. The preliminary report and the timeline of the incident have been received from AirNav Indonesia,” Agus said.
Read: Bodies of 3 Victims in SAR Helicopter Crash Recovered
Data from AirNav Indonesia show that there was lost contact of flight registration HR3602 that departed at 16:03 hours with Semarang-Dieng route flying on 245 radial and was expected to arrive at 16:20 hours. The last contact between Air Traffic Controller (ATC) AirNav Indonesia officer and the pilot was reported at 16:11 hours, at the height of 3,000 feet during which the helicopter had traveled 14 NM.
The ATC officer had instructed the pilot to report to the dispatch office after traveling 30 NM, but the report was never received. At 18:30 hours, the ATC was informed that the helicopter was found in Canggal Bulu Village, Candiroto, in the hills of Mount Butak, Temanggung District.
The helicopter was belonged to the National Armed Forces (TNI), and was operated under the command of Basarnas. Therefore, investigation process is subject to military terms.
Investigation into the Basarnas helicopter crash will be conducted by the TNI. Meanwhile, the Transportation Ministry will fully support the implementation process on the ground according to the applicable regulations.
LARISSA HUDA