Rescue Helicopter Plunges During Training Session
Wednesday, 18 November, 2009 | 15:26 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: A training helicopter of the National Search And Rescue Agency went down during a basic training session in Semarang Central Java on Wednesday. No fatalities in the incident which took place during the 20-day training for rescuers, except minor injuries.

Head of the Search and Rescue office in Semarang, S Riyadi said “the right skid touched the water because (the helicopter was flying) too low.” The helicopter plunged into the sea about 3 kilometers off the Marina Beach, with five people on board, consisting of one pilot, one co pilot, one Search and rescue instructor and two rescuers trainees. No clear number of injured, and Riyadi said there were only minor injuries.

The training for new recruits was attended by 44 candidates from Semarang, Jakarta, Makassar (South Sulawesi), and Kendari (South East Sulawesi) which was scheduled from 6 – 26 November.

Riyadi said there had been no decision on whether or not the traiing would be postponed.

ROFIUDDIN