Helicopter chartered by Nusa Halmahera crashes, killing 9

A helicopter operated by PT Nyaman Air, chartered by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, a joint venture between Australia-listed Newcrest Mining Limited and state-owned gold and nickel miner PT Aneka Tambang Tbk, has crashed near Manado.

The helicopter was en route from Manado, Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, to the Gosowong Mine on the island of Halmahera.

There were 10 people on board the helicopter which was transporting eight employees and contractors to the mine and there were two crews.

Local authorities advise that there is one survivor, an Indonesian national, who is critically injured. He has been transported to a nearby hospital. His name cannot yet be provided.

Local authorities advise that the other nine people on board have died.

Newcrest Chief Executive Officer, Greg Robinson said, ?Newcrest and Aneka Tambang express their deepest sadness and condolences to family, colleagues and friends of the passengers over this tragic event?.

Newcrest Mining said in a statement that the helicopter was reported missing at approximately 2:30 pm local time yesterday. The cause of the crash is not yet known. There was an extensive search by air and land culminating in the discovery of the helicopter early this morning.

During the night most of the families of the passengers and crew were contacted and advised that the helicopter was missing. Families are in the process of being advised of this latest information.

Two Australian residents, two South Africans and four Indonesians were passengers on the flight and the two crews were Indonesians.

The PTNHM President Director, Iwan Irawan, is on route to Manado. Senior Newcrest Executives are traveling to Manado from Australia.

PTNHM and Newcrest are looking at options for transporting family members to Manado. Counseling and support services are being made available to family and employees. (romel)