Tourist Helicopter Carrying Australian Passengers Crashes in Bali
Denpasar – A helicopter crashed in the cliffs area of Suluban Beach, Pecatu Village, South Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali, on Friday afternoon (July 19, 2024).
I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the Bali Basarnas Office, stated that the crashed helicopter was a tourist helicopter usually used to transport visitors. At the time of the incident, the helicopter was carrying two Australian tourists among its passengers.
“Based on initial information, the helicopter was carrying five people, including the pilot and crew, as well as two Australian tourists,” he said in a Kompas TV broadcast on Friday afternoon.
I Nyoman Sidakarya explained that the incident began when the helicopter took off from the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) helipad in Uluwatu, Badung, at 14:33 WITA for a sightseeing trip. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter, piloted by Indonesian Dedi Kurnia, was reported to have crashed at around 14:37 WITA.
“All victims have been successfully evacuated in safe condition; they suffered injuries and some have broken bones,” he stated.
According to I Nyoman, the three passengers were Eloira Decti Paskilah from Indonesia, Chriestope Pierre Marrot Castellat, and Russel James Harris from Australia. Another person, Oki, was on board as a crew member.
“Three passengers were taken to Siloam Hospital by ambulance,” he added.
I Nyoman noted that the helicopter wreckage remains at the crash site. “We are waiting for other authorities to evacuate the helicopter wreckage and for the NTSC team to investigate the crash,” he said.
He confirmed that preliminary investigations revealed the helicopter crashed due to getting entangled in a kite string. “The cause was the rotor blades getting caught in a kite string, preventing the helicopter from flying further and causing it to crash,” explained I Nyoman.
When the helicopter crashed, nearby residents quickly responded and helped evacuate the victims.
The incident was shared on social media, including an Instagram post by the account @infobali.viral.
Police Investigation
Commissioner Jansen Avitus Panjaitan, Head of Public Relations at the Bali Regional Police (Polda), also confirmed the accident. According to him, police officers were on their way to the crash site. “Officers are checking the location,” he stated.
However, Jansen has not yet disclosed the exact cause or full chronology of the accident. According to preliminary information, five people were on board the helicopter, including one pilot and four passengers. All five victims have been evacuated to Bali Jimbaran Hospital, South Kuta, Badung Regency.
“Preliminary information indicates that 1 pilot and 4 passengers have been evacuated to Bali Jimbaran Hospital,” said Jansen.
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