JAKARTA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- A small plane with 10 crews search the area where the missing helicopter lost contact in Indonesia's eastern province of Papua on Thursday, but failed to locate the chopper, according to a local official.
The Bell helicopter with three people on board lost contact at 10:25 a.m. local time after departing from Nabire district, the spokesman of the National Search and Rescue Office Yusuf Latiefsaid, citing the chopper was heading to Baya Biru of Paniai district.
"A small plane has headed to the scene and flew above the area, but failed in its mission," Latief told Xinhua via phone, saying clouds were enveloping the airspace.
The helicopter was operated by a utility helicopter company operating in Indonesia, PT National Utility Helikopter, according to the official.
The operation involves rescuers from the local search and rescue offices, soldiers, police, personnel of the air navigation office and others, he said.
Separately in Papua province, about 24 rescuers from search and rescue offices in Biak and Nabire districts have been preparing for resuming the search mission on Friday, a small plane would also be deployed to support the mission, Head of Search and Rescue Office of Biak District Gusti Anwar Mulyadi said.
"Our personnel and colleagues from Nabire will jointly start the mission again tomorrow (Friday)," Mulyadi told Xinhua via phone. Enitem
