Palu, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Bodies of the military personnel killed in Sundays helicopter crash in Poso, Central Sulawesi, will be buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta, National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantio stated.

Speaking to reporters at the Bhayangkara Hospital here on Monday, the TNI chief remarked that the bodies will be identified at the hospital here before being flown to Jakarta for burial at the Kalibata Cemetery.

"After being identified here, the bodies will be re-identified at the Kramat Jati Hospital in Jakarta before the burial," Gatot revealed.

The TNI chief arrived in Palu on Monday morning to pay his last respects to the 13 military officers, including three colonels, who were killed in the Bell 412 helicopter crash.

The victims include Colonel Saiful Anwar, commander of the Tadulalo Regiment 132, who had led an operation to hunt the Santoso-led terrorist group in Poso.

The TNI chief is in Palu on behalf of President Joko Widodo who has mourned the deaths of the military officers.

The ill-fated helicopter, with 13 people aboard, left Napu for Poso on Sunday at 5:15 p.m. local time, but after flying for 20 minutes, it crashed due to downpour and strong wind. No one survived in the crash.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016