Indonesian Firefighting Helicopter Crashes Into Barito River; Missing Crew Member Confirmed Dead, Two Pilots Survive

A helicopter fighting forest fires in Indonesia crashed into the Barito River in South Kalimantan on Sunday, November 8, while collecting water, leaving two Australian pilots alive and one Indonesian crew member missing, with a search under way. It is the second water-bombing helicopter crash in Indonesia in five days. (Photo: file photo of an Indonesian disaster agency helicopter.)

Helicopter lost control while scooping water; two Australian pilots rescued

The aircraft was a Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma, registration VH-HGM, chartered by Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to fight forest and land fires. It came down in the Barito River near Tabatan Village, Kuripan District, Barito Kuala Regency, after filling its bucket and losing control, plunging nose-first into the water. Berton Panjaitan, acting head of the agency's Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, said the two Australian pilots had been found alive and were receiving medical attention, while the third crew member, Indonesian Helicopter Landing Officer Yayan Supyansuri, remained unaccounted for. The Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office dispatched an 18-person rescue team to the scene.

Second water-bombing helicopter crash in five days

It is the second water-bombing helicopter crash in Indonesia in five days. On Wednesday, November 4, an Indonesian Army Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed into a river in Seruyan, Central Kalimantan, while collecting water to fight fires, killing three soldiers and injuring five. Indonesia is facing its worst forest and land fire season in more than a decade, with large areas burning in Sumatra, Borneo and Papua; Australia's New South Wales Rural Fire Service has dispatched a C-130 Hercules and a Cessna Citation aircraft to help, operating from November 6 to 12.

Cause under investigation

The disaster agency said its immediate priorities were searching for the missing crew member, supporting the surviving pilots' recovery and securing the wreckage on the riverbank; the cause of the crash is under investigation. Video circulating online shows the helicopter being dragged downward after filling its bucket from the river, eventually plunging nose-first into the water.

(Sources: AFP; Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency; Reuters.)

Update, November 8: Missing crew member confirmed dead; body recovered and taken to clinic

Search teams found the body of missing crew member Yayan Supyansuri, the Indonesian helicopter landing officer, inside the wreckage at about 6:04 p.m. Central Indonesia Time on Sunday, November 8, Banjarmasin search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana confirmed, and the body was taken to the health clinic in Jenamas, South Barito. The two surviving pilots were identified as Australian Michael John Betterridge and New Zealander Hugh Andrew John Page, both of whom have received medical treatment. The disaster agency initially reported incorrectly that all three crew members had survived, then corrected itself; the cause of the crash is still under official investigation.

Update, November 9: Victim identified; two survivors Australian and New Zealander

Antara reported that the victim was identified as Indonesian landing commander Yayan Supyansuri; the two survivors are Australian Michael Betteridge and New Zealander Hugh Page. The cause of the crash remains under investigation; Indonesia's disaster agency will comprehensively review aerial firefighting safety, including fleet condition, crew qualifications, water-collection procedures, weather and terrain.