A joint search and rescue (SAR) team consisting of military and police personnel as well as local people found the wreckage of the ill-fated chopper at 11 am local time on Monday, commander of the Sumbawa Military Region 1607 Lt Col A Eko Mulyadi told ANTARA.
The helicopter crashed in a mountainous area located 2,500 meters from Kemilas village, Ropang sub district, Sumbawa District, West Nusa Tenggara Province.
"At the location, the SAR team found two charred bodies , namely those of the pilot and another person," he said.
The fatalities were identified as Captain Agus Khaeruddin, a resident of Bogor, West Java, and Load Master Ari Palimpung of Manado, North Sulawesi.
It was reported initially that the helicopter carried three persons , including two employees of the gold and copper mining company.
"The 24-member team is currently trying to evacuate the victims bodies," he said.
Meanwhile, the Newmont public relations manager, Rubi Purnomo, earlier explained that contact with the chopper was lost on Sunday (Sept 25) at 1.42 pm when it was on its way from a Newmont camp to Lamurung in Ropang sub district, Sumbawa District.
Newmont is currently exploring the Elang Dodo block in Ropang sub district, Sumbawa District, around 75 kilometers from Sumbawa Besar.
"A SAR team of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), Police personnel and members of the local community are currently conducting the search," he said.
According to Rubi, the last contact with tbe ill-fated chopper happened on Sunday at 1.42 pm local time.
"The helicopter had three people on board, namely a pilot and two Newmont employees," he said. (*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
