JAKARTA, Indonesia: A Malaysian has been confirmed to be among the eight victims who perished in an Airbus H130′ helicopter crash in West Kalimantan on Thursday.
The Deputy for Operations and Preparedness of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Edy Prakoso, said the Malaysian was among six passengers on board the ill-fated helicopter, which also carried two crew members – a pilot and a technician.
“Indeed, one of the victims is a foreign national from Malaysia,” he said, according to Antara News Agency, on Friday.
Edy said the process of handing over the remains to families is currently underway following identification procedures.
Civil Aviation Director-General, Lukman F. Laisa, in a statement said the Malaysian was identified as Patrick K.
According to a national news portal, the deceased is a former KLK Group Plantations’ Director, Patrick Kee Chuan Peng.
Besides Patrick, the other victims were identified as Captain Marindra W (pilot), Harun Arasyid (technician), and five passengers – Victor T, Charles L, Joko C, Fauzie O, and Sugito.
The helicopter, operated by Matthew Air Nusantara, took off at 7:34 am local time from Melawi Regency and was reported to have lost contact at 8:39 am while enroute to Kubu Raya Regency in West Kalimantan.
Meanwhile, Director of Preparedness for Basarnas, Noer Isrodin, said all the bodies had been evacuated and transported to Bhayangkara Hospital in Pontianak for identification.
Indonesian authorities said the cause of the crash has yet to be determined, while a preliminary report is expected within 30 days. – BERNAMA
