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strong>JAYAPURA: A number of passengers reportedly suffered minor injuries when a Mil-8 Hevilift helicopter carrying 26 passengers and three crew members was forced to make an emergency landing near Mile 66 in Tembagapura, Mimika, Papua, on Tuesday.

The helicopter, operated by PT Hevilift Aviation Indonesia and chartered by US-based mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia, flew from Timika to Tembagapura.

The helicopter lost altitude near a mountain cliff before making a hard landing. There were no casualties in the incident.

Ramdani Sirait, PT Freeport Indonesia spokesman, said that the main cause of the accident had not yet been determined.

Mimika Air Transportation Unit head John Rettob said that the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) would investigate the matter.