Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) – The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) confirmed that one Indonesian crew member died after a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Barito River in Barito Kuala District, South Kalimantan, on Sunday.
The two other crew members, both New Zealand nationals, survived the crash.
The Helicopter, an H225 Super Puma, bearing registration number VH-HGM, went down while conducting water-bombing operations to suppress forest and land fires in the region.
Head of the Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office and the designated SAR Mission Coordinator, I Putu Sudayana, said the deceased crew member was retrieved by a joint search and rescue team at 6:08 p.m. local time (UTC+8) near Tabatan Village, Kuripan Subdistrict.
The deceased was identified as Yayan Supyansuri, an Indonesian national serving as a flight crew member and navigator.
“The third victim was found dead. The body was temporarily taken to the Jenamas Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in South Barito District, Central Kalimantan, before being transferred to a hospital in Banjarmasin for further medical examination,” Sudayana said.
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The two survivors were identified as pilot Hugh Pagi and co-pilot as well as flight engineer Mick Betteridge, both citizens of New Zealand. Both men were rescued from the river alive shortly after the crash.
With the recovery of Supyansuri, all personnel aboard the aircraft have been accounted for.
Authorities said the cause of the accident remains under investigation by relevant agencies.
The joint SAR operation mobilized personnel from Basarnas, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the South Kalimantan Provincial Police, the Barito Kuala Resort Police, Regional Disaster Mitigation Agencies (BPBD) from South and Central Kalimantan, as well as civilian volunteers.
Sudayana commended all agencies and emergency responders for their swift coordination throughout the search, rescue, and recovery efforts.
The Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Countermeasures (BNPB) stated earlier that the helicopter, bearing Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 2878, is owned by a private company and was chartered by the agency to support aerial firefighting operations in the fire-prone province.
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Translator: Tumpal Aritonang, Uyu Liman
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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