Helicopter crashes in Indonesia, all eight on board killed

All eight people on board, including the pilot, have been killed after a civilian helicopter crashed in West Kalimantan province, Indonesia. The local disaster management agency confirmed on Friday, April 17, that the accident occurred in Melawi district on Thursday, April 16.

The crashed helicopter was an Eyabas H130 model, owned by a local aviation service company. Mohammad Sayafi, head of the rescue team, said communication with the helicopter was lost just five minutes after it took off from a palm plantation in Melawi.

He said the crash site is in a remote hilly area surrounded by dense forest, which falls under neighbouring Sekadau district. Due to the difficult geographical conditions, it took considerable time for the rescue team to reach the site.

According to international media reports, the crashed helicopter was carrying two crew members and six passengers. All were recovered dead. Among the deceased is a Malaysian citizen.

The exact cause of the accident is not yet known. However, it is initially suspected that the helicopter's tail section became separated from the main body and was found several kilometres away. But what caused this separation has not yet been confirmed.

The local administration has already formed an investigation committee to determine the cause of the incident.

Source: Gulf News, AFP