Rescuers are still on a search mission for seven individuals following a helicopter crash that occurred just six minutes after taking off. One fatality has been found at the crash site in the tropical forests of Borneo after an extensive three-day search for the aircraft, which had eight occupants. The recovered body was located approximately 100 meters away from the helicopter, and the rescue team suspects there may be more victims inside the aircraft.
Challenges such as deteriorating weather conditions and limited daylight have complicated the search efforts, leading to the anticipated need for a salvage operation to access the individuals inside the burnt helicopter. Yudhi Bramantyo, the operational director of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, mentioned that the wreckage was discovered about 700 meters from the designated point and that the victim’s body has been prepared for evacuation.
The burnt condition of the helicopter indicates that dismantling the aircraft will be necessary to confirm the total number of victims inside. The Airbus BK117 D-3, belonging to Eastindo Air, lost communication with air traffic control eight minutes after departing from Kotabaru district airport in Indonesia’s South Kalimantan province, en route to Palangkaraya City on the island’s south side.
Among the eight occupants of the helicopter were three foreigners – Mark Werren from the United States, Santa Kumar from India, and Claudine Quito from Brazil, with the remaining individuals presumed to be Indonesian nationals. Over 200 personnel from various agencies, including police, military, and volunteers, were mobilized to search a 10-square-mile forest area in Mantewe, Tanahbumbu district, with support from five helicopters rotating in the search operation.
Following the recent discovery of the wreckage, ground search teams have been redirected to the crash site to aid in the recovery process. Indonesia has experienced several accidents in recent years, including plane crashes and ferry incidents, highlighting the challenges of transportation safety in the region.
In a separate incident last July, two Australians and three Indonesians survived a helicopter crash in Bali after the aircraft became entangled in a kite string. The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopter, operated by PT Whitesky Aviation, went down in Pecatu village on the southern coast of Bali, as reported by Indonesia’s transportation ministry. Photos shared by Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency depicted the helicopter, carrying five individuals, crashing on a limestone cliff.
