World · Singapore Bureau
Indonesian firefighting helicopter crashes; crew member missing
A water-bombing helicopter has crashed in South Kalimantan province during operations, with one crew member unaccounted for. The incident marks the second helicopter crash in recent days involving aerial firefighting assets.
LSN Singapore ·
A helicopter engaged in water-bombing operations crashed in South Kalimantan province, leaving rescue teams searching for a missing crew member. The aircraft went down while conducting fire suppression activities in the region.
Authorities have launched a search and rescue operation for the unaccounted crew member. Details regarding the circumstances of the crash and the identities of those aboard remain under investigation.
The accident is the second involving a firefighting helicopter in as many days, raising concerns about aviation safety in aerial firefighting operations across the region. Indonesian authorities have not yet released a statement regarding potential contributing factors or a preliminary assessment of the incident.
The recurring incidents have prompted attention to the operational conditions and maintenance standards of helicopters deployed for disaster response and firefighting missions in Indonesia.