TNI Army Helicopter Crashes While Fighting Forest Fires: Two Dead, One Missing

Two Indonesian Army personnel died when an MI-17V5 helicopter crashed while fighting forest and land fires near Tanjung Puting National Park (TNTP) in Central Kalimantan on Wednesday (4 November).

One other soldier remains missing following the crash. The five survivors are being treated at Kuala Pembuang Regional General Hospital.

“There were eight crew members: five are being treated here, two have been confirmed dead and one is still being searched for,” XIII/Tambun Bungai Military Regional Command chief Major General Zainul Arifin said in a statement on Thursday (5 November).

The two Indonesian Army personnel who died were Lieutenant Colonel (Anum) Dudi Firmansyah and Captain (Anum) Nurhafiz Akbar. The soldier still missing is Sergeant First Class (Anum) Heri Prasetyo.

Lieutenant Colonel Dudi Firmansyah will lie in state in Semarang, while Captain Nurhafiz Akbar will lie in state in Bandung.

Zainul said the helicopter crashed while carrying out a water-bombing mission in the Tanjung Puting National Park area.

“Yes, there was an MI-17 aircraft incident. It was on duty conducting water bombing around Tanjung Puting National Park,” he said.

Central Kalimantan’s XXII/Tambun Bungai Military Regional Command spokesperson, Colonel Dodo Sahata Manullang, said the Indonesian Army helicopter crashed while collecting seawater for the water-bombing operation.

Dodo said the Mi-17V5 took off from Kuala Pembuang at about 9.55am local time, bound for Telaga Pulang. The crash occurred at about 11.18am in Seruyan Regency, Central Kalimantan.

After the crash was reported, the Indonesian Army and a joint team launched a rescue operation. Evacuations were carried out by air and sea to speed up assistance to all those aboard.

The cause of the crash was not yet known as the incident remained under investigation at the time of writing.

Central Kalimantan Governor Agustiar Sabran and provincial police chief Inspector General Iwan Kurniawan visited the crash site and met survivors at Kuala Pembuang Regional General Hospital.

“We extend our deepest condolences,” Governor Agustiar said.

The Central Kalimantan police chief said evacuation and assistance efforts for the victims would continue.