Boyolali, C Java (ANTARA News) - A helicopter had to make an emergency landing due to bad weather conditions at the Dukuh Jetis Square, Kadipaten Village, Andong, Boyolali District, Central Java, on Friday, though no casualties were reported.

The helicopter carrying four passengers made the emergency landing at 1:00 p.m. amid heavy rains.

"I think the pilot made the emergency landing because of low visibility," stated an eyewitness Wartono (53).

The local residents gathered in the square once they saw the helicopter, he reported.

"The three passengers got off the chopper and sought shelter at a local residents house. They said they were flying from Jakarta and were en route to Yogyakarta," Wartono added.

At 2:00 p.m. the helicopter resumed its flight to Yogyakarta.

Recently, a helicopter, model PK-JTT, belonging to PT Pasific Utama, made an emergency landing in the West Java provincial city of Bekasi, due to fuel leakage, claimed the police.

"The helicopter flew from the Siloam Karawaci hospital in Tangerang, Banten province and was heading to Cirebon," chief of Jakarta Metropolitan police public relations division Senior Commissioner Rikwanto noted, adding that no injuries were reported following the emergency landing.

According to Rikwanto, the helicopter was piloted by Captain Tri Widodo and had two doctors on board.

The pilot decided to make an emergency landing at the Padurenan Mustika Jaya Village, Bekasi, due to fuel leakage, Rikwanto remarked, noting that all persons on board were safe and the chopper sustained no damage.

Last month, a Bell 412 EP military helicopter of the Indonesian military (TNI) lost contact and made an emergency landing in the Long Sulit Hamlet of the Malinau District, East Kalimantan.

The announcement was made by Army Chief of Staff General Budiman.

"Due to the bad weather, the pilot decided to return to Tarakan. In the middle of the route, the pilot had to make an emergency landing in the Long Sulit Hamlet due to the bad weather," Budiman stated.

The helicopter, piloted by Captain Marpaung, had taken off from Tarakan and was bound for Long Bawan at 1:30 p.m. local time.

The helicopter was carrying seven soldiers of the Yonif 100/Raider, aimed to replace the personnel stationed on the Indonesian and Malaysian border.

The helicopter had a three-member crew comprising Captain Marpaung, Co-Pilot Second Lieutenant Muhammad Kholiq, and Sergeant Kasnianto. The seven soldiers included Eliandy Saragih, Rudianto, Said Kelihu, Heri Purnomo, Tri Gunardi, Jecky Hartoyo, and Feri Kurniawan.

(A014/INE/B003)
EDITED BY INE