JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - An Indonesian military helicopter crashed Saturday during a mission to build a border post on Borneo island and burst into flames, killing at least 13 people on board and seriously injuring six others, an official said. The MI-17 helicopter was carrying seven soldiers, 12 civilians and about 1,800 kilograms (3,960 pounds) of logistical supplies when it went down near the Indonesia-Malaysia border Saturday morning, said Indonesian military spokesman Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul. He said the cargo helicopter, which was made three years ago, reportedly lost contact with the base 45 minutes after taking off from the neighboring town of Tarakan. Rescuers spotted the wreckage of the burning helicopter in a remote area of Malinau district of North Kalimantan province. They rushed to the scene and pulled 13 bodies from the debris, including five troops, and rushed six badly injured people to a Tarakan hospital, Sitompul said. The engine apparently lost power while landing, Sitompul said. We are still investigating what caused the crash of our new helicopter. Indonesia, a sprawling archipelagic nation of 240 million, has been plagued by transportation accidents in recent years, from plane and train crashes to ferry sinkings. Overcrowding, aging infrastructure and poor safety standards are often to blame.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 20:37:38 +0000
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