Jakarta. A charter helicopter carrying eight people has been reported missing and is feared to have crashed in Nanga Taman district, Sanggau regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesian authorities said on Thursday.

Officials said the aircraft was carrying two pilots and six passengers when contact was lost earlier in the morning.

Initial reports suggested the helicopter may have exploded near Bukit Puntak at around 8:00 a.m. local time.

“We received information that the helicopter reportedly exploded on Bukit Puntak in Tapang Tingang village at 8:00 a.m., but we are still verifying the report,” Sigit Purnomo, an official at the Sanggau Regional Disaster Management Agency, was quoted as saying by Liputan6.

The helicopter was reportedly en route from Melawi regency to Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province.

Local media reported that the aircraft may have been carrying the chief executive of palm oil company Karunia Prima Nastari, though authorities have not confirmed the passenger list.

The identities of the passengers and crew have not yet been released. Search and verification efforts are ongoing.

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