Select Language:
A private helicopter crashed into a dense forest on Indonesia’s Borneo island, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and six passengers, according to the transportation department. The Airbus helicopter, operated by local company Matthew Air Nusantara, lost contact with air traffic control about five minutes after takeoff in the West Kalimantan province on Thursday morning. All eight individuals onboard were men, including one Malaysian national, stated Civil Aviation Director General Lukman F Laisa.
The joint search and rescue team successfully identified the crash site late Thursday evening in a rugged forested area characterized by steep slopes. The victims’ bodies are now being transported to Pontianak, the provincial capital. Indonesia, an expansive archipelago in Southeast Asia, heavily depends on air travel to link its thousands of islands. However, the country has a history of poor aviation safety, with numerous deadly incidents in recent years. In January, a chartered turboprop operated by the fisheries ministry crashed into a mountain on Sulawesi, killing all 10 on board. Last September, a helicopter with six passengers and two crew members went down in South Kalimantan, resulting in fatalities. Less than two weeks later, another helicopter crash in Papua’s Ilaga district claimed four lives.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
