Melawi, Indonesia: All eight people on board a helicopter were killed after the aircraft crashed in a remote, forested area of Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, authorities confirmed on Friday, following an overnight search operation that located the wreckage in difficult terrain.
The aircraft, identified as an Airbus H130 helicopter operated by Matthew Air Nusantara, lost contact shortly after takeoff on Thursday morning while flying within Melawi district in Borneo island.
According to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the helicopter disappeared from radar approximately five minutes after departure from a plantation helipad and was later found crashed about 3 kilometres from its last known contact point, in a densely forested and hilly area.
“The location of the crash or loss of contact is in a densely forested area with steep hilly terrain,” said Mohammad Syafii, head of Basarnas, as quoted by Reuters.
Officials confirmed that the aircraft carried six passengers and two crew members, all of whom died in the crash. The 2 crew members were identified as Pilot in Command, Captain Marindra W, and Engineer on Board, Harun Arasyid along with 6 passengers Patrick K, Victor T, Charles L, Joko C, Fauzie O, and Sugito. Rescue teams recovered wreckage, including parts believed to be the tail section of the helicopter, during the search operation involving military and police units.
The plantation area from which the helicopter departed is reportedly owned by the palm oil company Citra Mahkota, according to rescue officials cited in international reports.
Search and recovery efforts were significantly slowed due to dense jungle terrain and steep hills, forcing rescue teams to rely on combined aerial reconnaissance and ground movement through difficult forest access routes.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash. Investigators are currently examining all possible factors, including mechanical failure and weather conditions, though no official conclusion has been released. “The cause of the crash remains unclear,” Basarnas officials said, confirming that a full investigation is underway.
