Two Australian pilots escaped with minor injuries after their helicopter crashed into a river in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, while fighting the country's worst fires in a decade, as an 18-strong rescue team searches for a missing Indonesian crew member.
The Super Puma H225 helicopter was collecting water from the Barito River using a suspended bucket on Sunday when it lost control and plunged into the water, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Amateur video circulating online appears to show the aircraft descending low over the river before plunging into the water.
The two Australian pilots, Hugh Andrew John Page and Michael John Betterridge, have been found in good health and are receiving medical treatment, BNPB spokesman Berton Panjaitan said. Their families have been contacted.
The third crew member, Indonesian national Yayan Supyansuri, who was serving as the helicopter landing officer, was missing. The South Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has dispatched an 18-member team to the scene for the search and rescue effort.
“We have also ensured that the two crew members who have been found receive medical examinations and any necessary medical care,” Panjaitan said. “We have conveyed to the families of those involved that the government is placing serious priority on the search, rescue, and care of all the helicopter's crew members.”
The helicopter has been moved to the riverbank for investigation. Panjaitan said it was too early to determine the cause of the crash, declining to speculate before the official results are available. “This incident is a matter of serious concern for the BNPB, particularly regarding air operations for forest and land fire management,” he said, promising a “comprehensive evaluation of safety aspects in our air operations.”
The privately-owned aircraft was contracted by the BNPB to conduct water-bombing operations and has been regularly used for disaster response missions across Indonesia, including in Banjarmasin, Pontianak and Surabaya.
The incident comes as Indonesia experiences its worst wildfires in a decade, mainly on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The fires began in July and have been aggravated by a severe El Nino weather pattern, the government says. Satellite imagery analysed by Nusantara Atlas using peer-reviewed methodology shows 1.9 million hectares burned from January to September this year, 38 per cent higher than the same period in 2019, the previous worst year on record. Australia has deployed firefighting personnel to assist.
Analysis
Why this matters
- The crash highlights the dangers of firefighting operations during Indonesia's severe wildfire season, which has caused a health crisis from toxic haze reaching as far as the Philippines.
- The incident underscores the reliance on international and contracted air support for disaster response in the region.
- The outcome of the search for the missing third crew member will affect ongoing safety protocols for water-bombing missions.
Background
Indonesia is experiencing some of its worst wildfires in a decade, driven by a severe El Nino weather pattern, drought, and land clearance using fire. Since July, fires on Borneo and Sumatra have produced toxic haze that has drifted across Southeast Asia. Australia has sent firefighting personnel to assist. The helicopter involved was a Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma, used for water-bombing and contracted by Indonesia's BNPB.
What to watch
- The search for Yayan Supyansuri and whether he is found alive.
- The official investigation report into the crash cause from Indonesian authorities.
- Any changes to BNPB air operation safety procedures following the incident.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTwo Australians survived the helicopter crash.7NEWS: “Two Australians have survived their helicopter crashing in a river while fighting forest fires in Indonesia .”
- SupportedA third crew member was missing and being searched for.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “He said the third crew member, Indonesian national Yayan Supyansuri, who was serving as the helicopter landing officer, was missing.”
- SupportedThe two Australian pilots escaped with minor injuries.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Two Australian pilots have escaped with minor injuries after their helicopter plunged into a remote Indonesian river”
- SupportedIndonesia was experiencing its worst wildfires in a decade.7NEWS: “The incident comes as Indonesia experiences its worst wildfires in a decade”
- SupportedAn 18-member team was sent to search for the missing crew member.7NEWS: “An 18-member rescue team was sent to search for the missing crew member.”
- SupportedThe helicopter lost control and crashed into the river while collecting water with a suspended bucket on Sunday.7NEWS: “Authorities said the helicopter was collecting water from the river using a suspended bucket when it lost control and crashed into the water.”
- SupportedPilots Hugh Andrew John Page and Michael John Betterridge were found in good health and were receiving medical attention.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “A spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNBD), Berton Panjaitan, said initial reports from the search and rescue office said both Australians “have been found in good health”. He named them as Hugh Andrew John Page and Michael John Betteridge and said they were receiving medical attention”
- SupportedPanjaitan said the two recovered crew members would receive medical examinations and necessary care.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““We have also ensured that the two crew members who have been found receive medical examinations and any necessary medical care,” Panjaitan said.”
- SupportedPanjaitan said the government was prioritising the search, rescue and care of all the crew members.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““We have conveyed to the families of those involved that the government is placing serious priority on the search, rescue, and care of all the helicopter’s crew members.””
- SupportedPanjaitan said the incident was a serious concern for the BNPB, particularly regarding air operations for fire management.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““This incident is a matter of serious concern for the BNPB, particularly regarding air operations for forest and land fire management,” he said”
- SupportedPanjaitan promised a “comprehensive evaluation of safety aspects in our air operations.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “promising a “comprehensive evaluation of safety aspects in our air operations”.”
- SupportedSatellite imagery analysis showed 1.9 million hectares burned from January to September, 38 per cent more than in the comparable period in 2019.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “From January to September this year, 1.9 million hectares of land burnt across Indonesia, according to satellite imagery analysed by Nusantara Atlas using peer-reviewed methodology. That is 38 per cent higher than the comparable period in 2019”