Three survive after another firefighting chopper crashes in Kalimantan

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33 minutes ago

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) – The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed that all three crew members survived after a chartered firefighting helicopter crashed into the Barito River in Barito Kuala District, South Kalimantan, on Sunday.

The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma bearing registration number VH-HGM, was conducting water-bombing operations to suppress forest and land fires in Tabatan Village, Kuripan Subdistrict, when the accident occurred.

BNPB Head Lieutenant General Kristomei Sianturi said he had received preliminary reports about the incident and had directed emergency response teams to secure the site and compile a comprehensive account of the events.

Meanwhile, Acting Head of BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center Berton SP Panjaitan said officials were gathering information from the field before issuing a comprehensive report to the public and relevant authorities.

The exact cause of the helicopter crash remains unknown and is subject to further investigation by the relevant authorities.

Video footage circulating on social media appeared to show the helicopter losing control while maneuvering moments after collecting water from the river using a Bambi bucket to extinguish nearby fire hotspots.

No casualties were reported in the preliminary assessment, while emergency response teams remained on standby at the site to oversee post-crash recovery operations.

The helicopter, bearing Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 2878, is owned by a private company and was chartered by BNPB to support aerial firefighting operations in the fire-prone province.

The incident comes just days after an Indonesian Army helicopter crashed into waters off Kuala Pembuang, Sungai Perlu Village, Central Kalimantan, on Wednesday (November 4). The Mi-17V5 helicopter had been assigned to conduct firefighting operations in Tanjung Puting National Park (TNTP).

That accident claimed the lives of three Indonesian Army personnel: Lieutenant Colonel (posthumously) Dudi Firmansyah, Captain (posthumously) Nurhafiz Akbar, and First Sergeant (posthumously) Heri Prasetyo.

Five other crew members survived the crash: Captain Febri, Second Lieutenant Fercis, Private Gilang, Sergeant Kadiya, and Captain Suganda.