Militery workers inspect the wreckage of an Army helicopter that crashes in Kendal, Central Java, on June 6,2020 (Antara Photo/I. C. Senjaya)
BY: YEREMIA SUKOYO
JUNE 06, 2020
Semarang, Central Java. A helicopter belonging to the Indonesian Army crashed and burst into flame in the Central Java town of Kendal on Saturday afternoon, killing four personnel onboard and hurting five others.
The Russian-made MI-17 helicopter was on a flight training objective with nine personnel, including 6 officer cadets, when the accident occurred near an industrial complex in Kendal at 1.40 p.m., the army said in a statement.
Investigation over the cause of the accident is underway, according Army representative Brig. Gen. Nefra Firdaus.
” The helicopter was in an excellent condition prior to the flight. We didn’t find any major indications [of mechanical faulty] throughout the pre-flight check,” Nefra stated in the statement.
The deadly flight occurred after the very first session of the training that went on efficiently, he said.
All the workers onboard were members of the Army’s Flight Training Center in the Central Java’s capital, Semarang, just east of Kendal.
” At around 12.35 p.m., the helicopter removed for a 2nd time for tactical maneuver training [from Semarang],” he said.
The Army launched identities of the victims on their given names without discussing their ages.
The departed workers consisted of Capt. Kadek, Capt. Fredi, Capt. Hendro and First Lieutenant Wisnu. The injured personnel were Very first Lieutenant Vira Yudha, Chief Private Nanang, Chief Private Rofiq, Chief Private Supriyanto and Chief Private Andi.
An eyewitness stated the chopper altered direction before it crashed and blew up on the ground.
” It lost balance and altered direction prior to crashing. The helicopter exploded immediately and six individuals rolled out of the flames,” Sarwono, a building worker at the scene, informed press reporters.
His fellow employees helped evacuate the hurt workers, who he said suffered serious burns.
All the victims were required to the Darul Istiqomah Health center in Kaliwungu subdistrict, Kendal.
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