JAKARTA – Search teams are looking for an Indonesian crew member after a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Barito River in South Kalimantan on Sunday, 8 November, with authorities correcting an earlier announcement that everyone aboard had survived.
Two Australian pilots were rescued and received medical treatment, but the third person aboard, helicopter landing officer Yayan Supyansuri, remains missing. The updated account was issued by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Bernama reported.
Berton Panjaitan, acting head of BNPB’s Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, confirmed that only two of the three crew members had been brought to safety. His statement superseded the agency’s initial report that all three were safe.
The privately contracted Super Puma H-225, registered VH-HGM, came down early on Sunday near Tabatan village in Barito Kuala Regency. It had been conducting water-bombing operations to tackle forest and land fires.
An 18-member search and rescue team from Banjarmasin was deployed with diving equipment and underwater detection devices. Indonesian Air Force personnel, police, other military personnel and local residents were also assisting the response.
The deployment brings specialist underwater search capability to the operation as responders work to locate the missing crew member. Authorities are also seeking to secure the helicopter wreckage along the riverbank.
“The main priority at this time is to search for the missing crew member, ensure the recovery of the surviving pilots and secure the helicopter wreckage along the riverbank,” Berton said in the updated statement.
BNPB said it would facilitate an official investigation into the cause of the crash and review safety procedures for aerial firefighting.
Berton said operations against forest and land fires would continue while the emergency response and planned safety review proceeded. The immediate priorities remain finding Yayan, supporting the surviving pilots and securing the wreckage, with the corrected casualty information making clear that the search is still active. — Sarawak Daily
