A Bell 505 helicopter, type PK-WSP, owned by PT Whitesky Aviation, crashed in the Pecatu area on the Bukit Peninsula. The cause of the crash quickly became apparent. Photos from the scene clearly show that a thick layer of kite string was tangled around the rotor.
On board the crashed helicopter were one pilot and four passengers: two Indonesians and two Australians. Initial reports indicate that all survived, though three injured passengers required hospitalization and were transported to Siloam Hospital by ambulance.
The helicopter took off from the GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) helipad at 2:33 PM local time for a sightseeing tour. Shortly after, at 2:37 PM, the aircraft, piloted by Indonesian Dedi Kurnia, disappeared from the radar.
Mohammad Husnu, head of international cooperation, public relations, and general affairs at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation, officially confirmed that the helicopter, belonging to PT Whitesky Aviation, crashed because it got entangled in a kite string.
Husnu promised that his department would conduct more intensive outreach and supervision regarding the careless flying of kites by local residents. This effort will be actively coordinated with the acting governor and regional leaders of the Bali region. "We need to address this issue and not jeopardize aviation safety," Husnu emphasized.
Residents are advised to be more cautious and aware of the dangers posed by flying kites in flight areas. Meanwhile, an aviation inspector has been sent to the crash site to conduct an on-site investigation. The helicopter owner, Whitesky Aviation, has also dispatched an investigation team to the scene.
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