Bad weather forces emergency landing for helicopter in Bintulu

Oleh  : Kang Tatang
Sumber : New Straits Times

BINTULU: A Sikorsky S-76 helicopter with two flight crew together with six passengers were forced to land their aircraft 92 nautical miles off coast Bintulu.

In the 7.42am incident, the helicopter and its passengers who are oil and gas workers, were carrying out offshore oil well survey in the area when they were hit by sudden weather change.
Police said the passengers were from France, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Canada.
Bintulu Police Chief Superintendent Madang Usat confirmed the incident and said the crew and passengers are safe.

"After the emergency landing, they were picked up by a  vessel nearby who took them to shore," said Madang.
All of them were taken to Columbia Hospital in Miri for medical check-up.
In a Bernama report, Bintulu police deputy chief DSP Mohd Said Ibrahim said the aircraft was leased by a petroleum company on a flight to identify oil and gas exploration sites when the weather condition worsened.

"They were fortunate that a vessel was passing the area and all of them were rescued.

 

"None of those on board suffered serious injuries," he said when contacted by Bernama from here, adding that they were sent to a hospital in Miri for general treatment.

 

On the helicopter, Mohd Said said the aircraft had sunk in the sea and the case was handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for further investigation.

 

The case was handed over to the MMEA as the area where the incident took place is under its jurisdiction."

 

Meanwhile, Petronas said the helicopter carrying the six personnel employed by a contractor of the Malaysian oil and gas company ditched about 159km off the shores of Bintulu.

 

"The incident occurred when the helicopter was about to make a controlled landing aboard a vessel carrying out seismic work," it said, adding that the cause of the incident was still under investigation.

 

Petronas was extending all the necessary assistance to the affected personnel, it said.