Agence France Presse, June 04, 1998
Copyright 1998 Agence France Presse
Agence France Presse
June 04, 1998 06:39 GMT
SECTION: International news
LENGTH: 238 words
HEADLINE: Eleven, including general, killed in ETimor helicopter crash
BODY:
JAKARTA, June 4 (AFP) - An Indonesian military helicopter crashed in East Timor
Thursday killing 11 of the 12 people aboard, including the army general responsible
for security there, the military said.
"Eleven people died and one captain was injured when the helicopter crashed
and burned shortly after takeoff," said Colonel Suryo Prabowo, the deputy
military chief in East Timor. The helicopter was carrying Major General Yudomo,
head of the Bali-based Udayana military command responsible for security in
East Timor, and East Timor military chief Colonel Slamat Sidabutar, he said.
Prabowo said the helicopter crashed in bad weather in Liaruka in the Viqueque
district, 178 kilometers (110 miles) southeast of the provincial capital of
Dili at 10:25 a.m. (0225 GMT).
He said the group had been on a working visit to the area.
Shortly after taking off, the helicopter's tail rotor caught a tree, causing
the aircraft to plunge to the ground and burst into flames.
"The bodies will be taken to Dili," Prabowo said.
Indonesian state radio said others on board included two captains and two air
force sergeants.
The survivor was Captain Mohammad of the Dili Military Information office, it
said.
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was annexed by Indonesia in 1976 after
heavy fighting. Between 8,000 and 10,000 Indonesian troops are stationed there,
according to military sources.
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