Indonesian Army Helicopter Crashes During Forest Fire Operation
Jakarta. An Indonesian Army helicopter crashed while carrying out a mission to extinguish forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan on Wednesday, leaving six of the eight personnel on board still awaiting evacuation, authorities said.
The MI-17V5 helicopter, registered as HA-5235, went down in the waters off Sungai Perlu village in Danau Sembuluh district, Seruyan regency, while collecting water for a firefighting operation at Tanjung Puting National Park.
Central Kalimantan Police spokesman Budi Rachmat said the helicopter experienced a technical problem while drawing water for the operation, which uses a technique known as water bombing to drop large volumes of water over fires.
A Bell rescue helicopter rescued two crew members at around 12:30 p.m. local time and took them by ambulance to Kuala Pembuang Regional Hospital for medical treatment.
The remaining six personnel were still at the crash site as joint rescue teams continued evacuation efforts by air and water, with support from a Kamov helicopter. Authorities had not provided further details about their condition or the identities of those rescued as of Wednesday afternoon.
The helicopter was part of an Indonesian Army aviation unit deployed to support the government's efforts to tackle forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan.
According to an initial report from the Tambun Bungai Military Command, the aircraft, led by pilot-in-command Major Dudi, took off at around 9:55 a.m. on a route from Kuala Pembuang to Telaga Pulang and back.
Its mission was to conduct water bombing operations in the Telaga Pulang resort area, within the first management section of Tanjung Puting National Park.
An emergency signal prompted a joint rescue operation involving air and water teams. Central Kalimantan Military Commander Major General Zainul Arifin and military spokesman Colonel Dodo Sahata also headed to the crash site to monitor the response.
The military command said the road journey from the provincial capital, Palangka Raya, to the crash site was expected to take up to 10 hours.
Tags: Keywords:
as a preferred
Related Articles
Indonesian Army Helicopter Crashes During Forest Fire Operation
An Indonesian Army helicopter crashes during a forest fire mission in Central Kalimantan, leaving six of eight crew awaiting rescue.
Thick Haze Chokes Central Kalimantan City as Residents Seek National Disaster Status
Haze from 1,056 fire hotspots chokes Palangka Raya, with hazardous air pollution prompting calls for a national disaster status.
Jakarta Prepares 367 Health Facilities as Haze Reaches the Capital
Jakarta prepares 367 health facilities to treat potential haze-related illnesses after smoke from Sumatra and Kalimantan crosses the region.
Tandyo Budi Named Indonesian Army Chief in Leadership Swap with Maruli
Prabowo names Tandyo Budi Army chief and Maruli Simanjuntak TNI deputy commander in a senior military leadership swap.
Forest Fires Disrupt 1,673 Flights in Indonesia
Forest fires disrupted 1,673 domestic flights in Indonesia, causing delays and cancellations as authorities monitor passenger rights.
Indonesia Enlists 350 Companies to Fight Fires in South Kalimantan
Indonesia enlists 350 companies to prevent fires across 10,000 hectares in South Kalimantan as blazes threaten the wider region.
Fires Ravage Indonesia’s Orangutan Haven as Volunteers Plead for Air Support
Fires threaten Tanjung Puting’s orangutan habitat, with volunteers seeking air support as more than 120,000 hectares burn across Kalimantan.
Indonesia Briefs Malaysia on Wildfire Response as Haze Spreads Across Borders
Indonesia has deployed over 60,000 personnel and 48 aircraft to fight forest fires as worsening haze prompts talks with Malaysia.
Indonesia Seeks Malaysia, Singapore Cooperation to Fight Transboundary Haze
Indonesia seeks Malaysia and Singapore's help to fight transboundary haze as fires burn more than 200,000 hectares this year.
‘Deeply Embarrassing’: Army Chief Condemns Gambling Operation in Military Housing
An Army officer had been detained over allegations that he rented out his official residence to people operating the gambling business.The Latest
Indonesian Army Helicopter Crashes During Forest Fire Operation
An Indonesian Army helicopter crashes during a forest fire mission in Central Kalimantan, leaving six of eight crew awaiting rescue.
Google Unveils $15 Billion Data Center Investment in Malaysia
Google plans to invest $15 billion in Malaysia in 2027–2028 to expand data centers amid surging AI demand.
Who Is Abdul El-Sayed, the First Muslim Elected to the US Senate?
Abdul El-Sayed defeats Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
NTT DATA Adds 12 MW of Data Center Capacity in Jakarta
NTT DATA opens a 12 MW Jakarta facility and launches a new optical connectivity service to support growing cloud and AI demand.
BHB Partners MCorp to Accelerate Leadership and Organisational Transformation
Boustead Holdings partners with Indonesia's MCorp to strengthen leadership and accelerate organisational transformation.Most Popular
