"It is strongly suspected that the helicopter with three crew members on board, crashed because it flew too low so that the skip touched the water and exploded," Adjunct Senior Commissioner Fahrurozzi, a spokesman of the Southeast Sulawesi Police office, said here Thursday.
The accident`s survivors are pilot Gunawan (33), transportation officer Kikin (34) and Kendari Plaza In Hotel manager Lukman (36). Gunawan and Kini are in critical condition, while Lukwan is slightly injured in his left eye.
They are being treated at Bhayangkra Police Hospital for the injuries.
The helicopter belonging to PT Intan Angkasa Air Service (not Bintang Angkasa as reported earlier) is of MD 500 PKIWS type.
The helicopter crashed at around 200 meters from the Kendari Bay coast, Kendari Barat sub district, Kendari city.(*)
HAJM/F001
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
