2 Bodies Of Helicopter Victims Fall In South Kalimantan DNA Tested, Identification Takes 2 Weeks

BANJARMASIN - The Disaster Victim Identification Team (DVI) decided to conduct a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test on the bodies of two Indonesian citizens who were charred by fire who were victims of a BK117 D3 helicopter crash that crashed in the forest area of Emil Baru Village, Mentewe, Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan.

"Actually, the antemortem data or when the victim was still alive, is quite complete," said Head of the South Kalimantan Police Dokkes Kombes Pol Dr Muhammad El Yandiko at a press conference for Operation DVI Polri BK117 D3 Helicopter Accident at Bhayangkara Hospital Banjarmasin, Antara, Sunday, September 7 evening.

However, he said, during the current post mortem data examination or data on victims, there were many limitations due to the condition of the two Indonesian citizens who were burned.

"So we took the last step by DNA testing. DNA is authentic evidence, everyone has a different DNA formula," said Yandiko.

For the two bodies of the charred Indonesian citizens, the DVI Team has taken samples on the bodies to be examined in a laboratory in Jakarta. This examination process takes about two weeks because the quality of the DNA sample is not so good as a result of the condition of the corpse being heavily damaged by the fire.

Of the eight victims, the DVI Team has succeeded in identifying six bodies including three foreigners and three Indonesian citizens. Meanwhile, the two bodies that have not been identified are Indonesian citizens, namely Captain Haryanto Tahir from Batam City, Riau Islands, and Andys Rissa Pasulu (Kalipapan City, East Kalimantan).

Eight of the victims of the helicopter crash consisted of a pilot named Captain Haryanto Tahir from Batam City, Riau Islands, a technician named Hendra Darmawan (Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi).

Then six passengers, namely Mark Werren (Australia), Santha Kumar Prabhakaran (India), Claudine Pereira Quito (Brazil), Iboy Irfan Rosa (Kuantan Singingi Regency, Riau), Yudi Febrian Rahman (Pekan Baru, Riau), Andys Rissa Pasulu (Kota Balikpapan, East Kalimantan).

The SAR team found a helicopter carcass at point 03 deg 5 6 S 115 deg 37 39.07 E, a forest area around Emil Baru Village, Mentewe District, Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday (3/9) at around 14:45 WITA, since losing contact on Monday (1/9) at around 08.54 WITA.

The helicopter was found at a distance of about 700 meters from the coordinates previously given by the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC). The SAR team managed to evacuate the entire body on Thursday (4/9) night around 21.50 WITA.