Helicopter crash in Indonesia wildfire operations, Digi Mart USA News (Barito River, Indonesia): Two Australians have survived a water-bombing helicopter crash in Indonesia, while a third crew member was still missing, Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said.
The Super Puma H-225 helicopter had been helping battle wildfires when it crashed into the Barito River at Tabata on Sunday. Footage showed the aircraft’s tail poking above the water as members of the public worked to rescue those inside.
In a statement, BNPB said that, contrary to an initial report that all crew members were safe, only two of the three crew members had been found safe. Both were Australian citizens, and they had received medical treatment.
The missing crew member was identified as Yayan Supyansuri, an Indonesian national, who remained under search and rescue operations.
BNPB said its top priorities were the search and rescue operation for the missing crew member, the health recovery of the surviving crew, and the safe handling of the helicopter wreckage on the riverbank. The agency also said it would facilitate an official investigation by the relevant authorities to determine the exact cause of the accident, so as not to create speculation among the public.
The crash occurred days after Australian teams were dispatched to Indonesia to help with water-bombing operations for fires that have been raging for months. A day earlier, a helicopter had crashed during a firefighting mission, killing three people.
The NSW Rural Fire Service had dispatched a C-130 Hercules and a Cessna Citation aircraft to support Indonesia’s firefighting operations from November 6 to 12, according to Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency. Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Roderick Bruce Brazier, said the support included a Large Air Tanker aircraft capable of dropping up to 15,000 litres of water per sortie, with an estimated capacity of up to six sorties per day.
Indonesia has been battling its most intense wildfires in 11 years, with large areas scorched, mainly on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Papua.
