Medan, N Sumatra (Antara Bali)- Thick smog resulting from forest and land fires hindered efforts to trace a helicopter belonging to PT Penerbangan Angkasa Semesta that lost contact on its way from Deli Serdang to Kualanamu, Medan, on Sunday.
"The Search and Rescue (SAR) team of 12 personnel faced difficulties in finding the helicopter that had lost contact in Toba Lake area, North Sumatra," SAR Medan office spokesman Hisar Turnip said here on Monday.
Visibility had dropped to only 400 meters due to haze, making it difficult for the SAR Team to find the missing chopper.
"The SAR Medan team cannot move fast with a rubber boat because Lake Toba was surrounded by haze," he said.
In its first attempt made at 9am, the SAR team combed the Onanrunggu waters in the district of Samosir to Balige in the district of Toba Samosir district and then from Parapat to Onanrunggu but failed to find the missing plane.
"Later, at 18:00 hours, the Medan and Tanjung Balai SAR teams halted their search efforts and would resume these tomorrow," he said.
He said more people would be involved in the effort tomorrow, including SAR members from other districts.
Six SAR team members from Medan were involved in the search operation on Monday in addition to another six from Tanjung Balai.
The Kualanamu airport spokesman, Wisnu Budi Setianto, when contacted on Sunday night, said the helicopter flew from Siparmahan on the western coast of Lake Toba through Pematangsiantar to Kualanamu when it lost contact.
The helicopter piloted by Teguh Mulyatno was expected to arrive at Kualanamu at 12:23 hours but the EC-130 PK-BKA chopper with technician Heri Purwantono and three passengers - Hurhayanti, Gianto and Frans - on board lost contact before arriving at the airport. "Even the pilot has not yet contacted the airport," he said.
According to the witnesses, the chopper was seen at around Tarabunga about 15 kilometers from Silangit at 14.30pm. (WDY)
