JAKARTA, April 17 — A Malaysian has been confirmed to be among the eight victims who perished in an Airbus H130 helicopter crash in West Kalimantan today.
ANTARA News Agency reported the National Search and Rescue Agency's (Basarnas) operations and preparedness deputy Edy Prakoso as saying that 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.
Edy added that the process of handing over the remains to families is currently underway following identification procedures.
In a statement, Civil Aviation Director General Lukman F Laisa said the Malaysian was identified as Patrick K.
Besides Patrick, the other victims were identified as Capt 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 from Melawi Regency at 7.34am local time and was reported to have lost contact at 8.39am while en route to Kubu Raya Regency in West Kalimantan.
Meanwhile, Basarnas preparedness director Noer Isrodin said all the bodies had been evacuated and transported to the Bhayangkara Hospital in Pontianak for identification.
The Indonesian authorities said the cause of the crash has yet to be determined, while a preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
