Four of the eight officials who were on board a helicopter carrying the Jambi Police chief, which was forced to make an emergency landing on Sunday (February 19, 2023), have been evacuated so far.

The evacuation was carried out by a joint search and rescue (SAR) team.

Head of the public relations division of Jambi Police, Senior Commissioner Mulia Prianto, confirmed here on Tuesday that the four passengers were evacuated from the accident site located in the wilderness of Tamia Hill, Kerinci district, Jambi.

The passengers comprised the director of criminal investigation, Senior Commissioner Andri Ananta; director of the Water and Air Police, Senior Commissioner Michael Mumbunan; Adjunct Commissioner Amos Fredily; and aide-de-camp to the Jambi Police chief, First Brigadier Aditya, he informed.

They have reached the accident’s crisis center in Merangin district, Prianto said.

There are four other officials who have not been evacuated yet, he added.

They are Jambi Police chief, Inspector General Rusdi Hartono; coordinator of executive personal staff, Commissioner A. Yani; Adjunct Commissioner Ali; and Second Adjunct Inspector Susilo.

Meanwhile, Prianto said that the rescue team made five more attempts to reach the accident site and distribute food and medicine supplies from 7 a.m. until 12:10 p.m. local time (UTC +7).

However, those attempts were in vain due to unfavorable weather conditions, he said.

Prianto affirmed that the joint SAR team will continue to make attempts to evacuate all victims and complete the operation.

A Bell 412 SP helicopter, bearing the registration number P-3001, carrying Hartono and his entourage was forced to make an emergency landing in the Jambi wilderness on Sunday due to inclement weather.

At the time of the accident, he was on his way to inaugurate an Integrated Police Service Center of Kerinci Police.

The joint SAR team managed to locate the downed chopper at 4 a.m. on Monday (February 20).

Source: Antara News