President Expresses Deep Condolences Over Victims of Crashed Chopper

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed condolences over the victims of the MI-17 Army helicopter which crashed in Malinu, North Kalimantan, on Saturday. "I here with convey my deep condolences to soldiers and civilians who were killed in the helicopter crash accident," President Yudhoyono said on his Twitter account on Saturday night. The President said that all soldiers killed in the accident were carrying out their tasks to construct a post in Malinau District which shared border with Malaysia in North Kalimantan. It was earlier reported that 13 people were killed and six others sustained injuries in the crash of the helicopter belonging to the Army. Army Spokesman Brig Gen Rukaman Ahmad explained the MI-17 helicopter crashed before it landed on the helipad in the Bulan post of Long Jelet village in Punjungan Subdistrict of Malinau District, North Kalimantan. Rukman said the helicopter was burnt after crashing killing 13 people. Six passengers were survived. Colonel Inf Legowo, the information head of the Mulawarman/VI Provincial Military Command issued a list containing the names of 19 people (13 of them died) in a military helicopter crash in Malinau, North Kalimantan, at around 11 am on Saturday. These killed were Captain Wahyu Ramadhan, First Lieut. Rohmad, First Lieut. Agung Budiharjo, Chief Sergeant Aan Prayitno, Captain Sardi, Wanyu (civilian), Desi (civilian), Ling ling (civilian), Asun (civilian), Sam (civilian), Ging (civilian), Rodest (civilian) and Delong Lenggang (civilian). Those who survived the accident were Chief Private Tigor M.T. Simburian, First Sergeant Joko Karsono, Mendan, Albert, Ferdy and Njuk. The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI)'s spokesman Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul earlier said a power loss may have caused the crash of the army helicopter. He noted that the initial investigation had revealed the Russian-made chopper lost power on the way to its destination. "While it was flying, it suddenly lost installed power, began losing height and caught fire," he stated. Sitompul said the Mi-17 helicopter was only two to three years old. He said the victims were still being evacuated to Tarakan.(*) (A014/A. Abdussalam)