Eight killed in helicopter crash on Indonesia’s Borneo Island

Indonesian authorities have confirmed that all eight people on board a private helicopter were killed after the aircraft crashed in a remote forested area of West Kalimantan, on Borneo.

The victims included two crew members and six passengers, all male. One of the deceased was identified as a Malaysian national, according to Lukman F. Laisa, Director General of Civil Aviation.

The helicopter, an Airbus H130 operated by local company PT Matthew Air Nusantara, departed from a plantation site in Melawi district at about 7:34 a.m. local time on Thursday. It was en route to another plantation in Kubu Raya when air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft approximately five minutes after takeoff.

A search and rescue operation was immediately launched by BASARNAS, focusing on the Sekadau region. The wreckage was located later that evening in a mountainous area covered by dense forest, making access difficult for rescue teams.

Officials said the helicopter was found badly damaged at the crash site. I Made Junetra, head of the local search and rescue agency, confirmed that all bodies had been recovered by Friday morning. The remains are being transported to Pontianak for identification and repatriation.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, although no official determination has been made. Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation said it will examine possible factors, including weather conditions and mechanical issues.

Indonesia, which relies heavily on air transport across its vast archipelago, has faced ongoing aviation safety challenges in recent years. The latest incident adds to a series of air accidents that have raised concerns about safety standards in the country.

Officials say efforts are underway to recover flight data to help determine the circumstances leading to the crash.