Helicopter Crashes In Bali, Minister Of Transportation: Become A Lesson In Prioritizing Safety

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI)

Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi said the case of the crash of a helicopter in Bali could be a lesson in prioritizing safety.

"(The collapse) is a helicopter in Bali, I think it is our lesson to prioritize safety," Budi told media crews in Kota Tua, Sunday, July 21.

Budi asked that the incident be a lesson for all to pay attention to better safety and provide the best service to passengers.

Therefore, Budi said, governance plays an important role in creating transportation safety.

"So it's an expensive lesson. On the one hand, they are good at serving customers, but there are things that are not governance, so I think it's an expensive lesson," said the Minister of Transportation.

In the future, Budi hopes that the helicopter company can take proactive steps in mitigating similar risks related to the collapse of helicopter operations in Bali.

"So what will come is our obligation to prepare (safety)," he said.

Previously, the Head of the Airport Authority Office (Otban) Region IV Badung, Agustinus Budi Hartono admitted that the tourist helicopter incident was wrapped in the Sulawesi kite rope of Pecatu, Bali on Friday (19/7) yesterday, not the first time this has happened. At least 3 times this year.

"Yes, that's right, the first was in early July but it didn't get fatal, in 2024 it was the second time, the first one didn't fall and there were no casualties," he said in Badung Regency, Bali, Saturday.

From data from the Otban Region IV office, the helicopter that crashed yesterday was owned by PT Whitesky Aviation which wanted to take tourists from DTW GWK to Uluwatu.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday (2/7), a tourist helicopter belonging to another company was also wrapped in a rope but did not fall when it was about to take tourists from Melasti to Tanjung Benoa.

"Data (year after year) there was an increase in helicopters that crashed, not at the same location, but in Tanjung Benoa it was wrapped in a rope, at that time it was also carrying passengers but it could be known that it was faster and survived," he said.

Agustinus has not been able to conclude whether the incident of the helicopter crashed in Suluban Pecatu, including negligence, because his party and the NTSC are currently investigating.

Although it has not been able to conclude whether kite ropes are the main cause of the latest events, from direct observation, it is clear that the rope on the helicopter rotor is clearly visible.

For this reason, the Otban Region IV Office reminded about regional regulations governing the area and safe distance of playing kites contained in the Bali Regional Regulation Number 9 of 2000.

"That's the radius between 9-18 thousand meters, indeed the maximum kite should be only 100 meters, based on the flight law it is still within the horizontal radius outside the KKOP," he explained.

If it leads to regional regulations and flights, there should be criminal sanctions and a fine of money if the kite pilot violates it.

However, until now they are still looking for the owner of the kite rope and conducting an investigation in Suluban Pecatu.

"We are in intense communication, so socialization educates the public, like yesterday before the incident we actually had a coffee morning with all stakeholders there were sub-districts, sub-districts, environmental observers, helicopter operators already," said Agustinus.