REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BALIKPAPAN -- A helicopter made a crash-landing in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, on Saturday, but all passengers onboard were reported safe.
The Sikorsky 76 C belonging to PT Hevilift Aviation Indonesia made a crash-landing at 10:20 a.m. in Kutai Lama village in the sub-district of Anggana, 120 kilometers northeast of Balikpapan.
"The pilot and the passengers onboard were safe but wounded," Head of the Balikpapan post of the National Search and Rescue Agency, Mujiyono, said.
Some 40 minutes earlier, the helicopter with registration number PK FUP departed from Balikpapan to the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of Total Indonesie, the company that has been mining oil and gas in Delta Mahakam since 1967.
Total Indonesie rented the helicopter to ensure the smooth transportation of personnel and goods.
Seven passengers, including three crew members and four passengers, were onboard the chopper at the time of the incident. The passengers were employees of Total Indonesie, PT Radian Utama and PT Biru Tiga Utama.
At 12:5 p.m. all passengers were transferred to Siloam Hospital in Balikpapan, after being administered first aid at the CPU clinic.
Erwan Paulana (43), a cook on a crane barge near the site of the incident, saw the helicopter fly around and appear to lose control. It then descended fast emitting black smoke, although no flames were visible. The chopper then landed in a mangrove forest.
Sabdo Utomo and Supardi, who work as security guards with Total Indonesie, backed Paulana's story. They rushed to the location immediately and transported the passengers to the CPU clinic.
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