Basarnas: All 429 PK-WSW Bell Helicopter Victims Successfully Evacuated

The search for Hellykopter Bell 429 PK-WSW which crashed in the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) mining area was finally found, Wednesday (21/2/2024). ANTARA/HO- Humas Basarnas Ternate (Abdul Fatah)

TERNATE - The Search and Rescue Office of the Ternate Basarnas, North Maluku (Malut), stated that the search for the 429 PK-WSW BEll helicopter that crashed in the Indonesia mining area Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) was finally found.

Head of Basarnas Ternate Fatur Rahman said his party had also succeeded in evacuating three victims who were found dead, namely CaptAgus Sumaryanto (Pilot), Capt Septian (Co Pilot), and PaxUmar Ali an employee.

The three victims boarded the 429 PK-WSW Heli departing from Tanjung Uli Cekel Airport (PT IWIP Airport) Jiguru (JGR) Pinto East (PNE) Kaorahai (KRH) - Tanjung Uli Cekel Airport (PT IWIP Airport)

Fathur said that at 03.00 WIT the Ternate Basarnas Rescue Team arrived at PTIWIP and carried out coordination as well as plans for the movement of SAR operations.

Then at around 07.00 WIT, Team E PTIWIP carried out a search for sortie 1 using PK DAM Heli from Tanjung Uli Cekel Airport to PNN (Pinto North) and at 07.30 WIT The Ternate Basarnas Rescue Team conducted a briefing with PT IWIP to discuss today's search plan.

The evacuation process, he continued, was carried out at around 09.55 WIT after the PK DAM helicopter finished searching for sortie 1 and landed at PNE.

The results of air monitoring at 00 deg 37 19.8 N / 128 deg 06 30.0 E were visually monitored by debris that allegedly came from the Bell 429 PK-WSW Heli and at 10.50 WIT, the joint SAR Team arrived at the location and immediately carried out the evacuation process.

At 11.59 WIT the victim had been evacuated dead to the PNE Camp, then the victim was taken to Cekel Airport.

At 14:05 WIT, PK.DAM helicopter took off from PNE to Tanjung Uli Cekel Airport with the body and arrived at 14.20 WIT at Tanjung Uli Cekel Airport.

The victims were then taken to Weda Hospital for an identification process by the North Maluku Police DVI Team.

With the victim's discovery, he said, the SAR operation was closed and all elements involved were returned to their respective units, such as Kodim 1512/Weda, Central Halmahera Regency Police, North Maluku Police Mobile Brigade Unit, North Maluku Police Ditpolairud, and Red and White Cliff Climbing Communities (VRI) and Cyclonea Disaster Volunteers.