Military

DATE=04/02/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=INDONESIA/CHOPER CRASH (L-Only)

NUMBER=2-323673

BYLINE=NANCY-AMELIA COLLINS

DATELINE=JAKARTA, INDONESIA

CONTENT=

HEADLINE: Australian Navy Helicopter Delivering Aid Crashes in Indonesia

INTRO: An Australian Navy helicopter delivering aid to survivors of the earthquake that struck near the Indonesian island of Nias Monday has crashed, with 11 people on board.

VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.

TEXT: The helicopter crashed while trying to land on the remote west coast of Indonesia's Nias Island.

The Sea King helicopter had been ferrying aid as part of relief efforts to hard to reach areas of Nias, and was conducting a sortie of the quake devastated island when it crashed.

The Australian Department of Defense released a statement after Saturday's crash.

/// AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STATEMENT ///

"A royal Australian Navy Sea King helicopter has crashed in the vicinity of Gunung Sitoli on

Nias Island, off the west coast of Sumatra at approximately 7:30 p.m. Australian Eastern

Standard Time this evening. The helicopter, from HMS Kanimbla, was conducting a

sortie in support of operation Sumatra Assist Phase Two, the Australian Defense Forces

humanitarian contribution to the earthquake relief effort. Up to 11 people, including the

aircraft's crew of three were on board."

/// END ACT ///

The Australian Defense Department said the HMS Kanimbla was steaming toward the

vicinity of the crash site.

The Australian navy ship HMS Kanimbla arrived off Nias Saturday, equipped with Sea King

helicopters and medical personnel to deliver aid and treat the wounded from Monday's eight-point-seven magnitude earthquake that killed hundreds of people.

Helicopters have been crucial to the aid effort, as many roads have been left impassable by

the massive earthquake. (SIGNED)

NEB/NAC/TW