Five Bodies Aboard Ill-Fated Chopper Found Near Crash Site
By George Francis

Miri - Five bodies of the seven on board the ill-fated helicopter that went missing 17 days ago were found at the crash site yesterday. Two are still missing, said Search and Rescue Operations Director, Tan Sri George Chan, last night.

The five bodies are yet to be identified, he added.

The wreckage of the Bell 206 Long Ranger was located at North West of Pa'Lungan in the Bario highland Tuesday evening.

Ground parties, he said, consisting of locals, VAT 69, army, General Operations Force and fire personnel were approaching the crash site with medical aid last night.

The exercise of reaching the helicopter crash site early yesterday was hampered by heavy rain and low cloud cover.

"Approach by land was slowed down by swollen rivers and fast currents. Many attempts to winch commandos down from NURI helicopters were in vain until 5.30 pm before two VAT 69 personnel managed to reach the crash site," said Tan Sri George Chan.

He said static interference prevented further communications with the two commandos and added aerial rescue would resume at first light today.

The Hornbill Skyways seven-seater chopper went missing on July 12 enroute from Bario in Miri Division to Ba' Kelalan in Limbang Division.

On board the helicopter were Dr Judson Sakai Tagal, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office, who is in charge of security affairs; Roger Wong Hwa Puang, Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (Sesco) Chief Executive Officer; Lawrence Th'ng Padawan, Municipal Council Chairman; Datuk Marcus Raja, contractor; and, Jason Ng and Ling Tian Ho, Sesco engineers.

The aircraft was piloted by Captain Samsuddin Hashim. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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