An American Man is Among 8 Missing Individuals Following Helicopter Disappearance in Indonesia
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An American man, alongside seven others, has been reported missing after a helicopter ‘lost contact’ during a flight over the forests of Indonesia. The National Search and Rescue Agency of Indonesia (SAR) released a statement confirming the disappearance of the BK 117-D3 helicopter, which occurred in the Kecamatan Mantewe area of South Kalimantan on Monday, September 1.
According to reports from ABC News and The Independent, the aircraft lost communication a mere eight minutes after takeoff, raising concerns for the safety and whereabouts of the passengers. The missing American passenger, along with the rest of the individuals onboard, have prompted search efforts by SAR teams to locate the helicopter and its occupants.
Efforts are being made to find the missing passengers using aerial and ground search operations within six major coordinate points around Tanah Bumbu District. The SAR teams are collaborating intensively, combining air and land elements to cover vast areas that are challenging to reach on foot. The search includes reaching remote locations by air and direct combing in hilly terrains and dense forests.
The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, departed from the Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan with a scheduled destination of Palangkaraya city. However, the aircraft failed to reach its endpoint after losing contact with air traffic control at 8:54 a.m., just minutes after departure. Reports indicate that one pilot, one engineer, and six passengers, including the American man, were on board the ill-fated aircraft.
The Indonesian outlet Antara News identified the individuals as Captain Haryanto, Eng Hendra, Mark Werren, Yudi Febrian, Andys Rissa Pasulu, Santha Kumar, Claudine Quito, and Iboy Irfan Rosa. With no sign of the missing passengers during the initial search operations, additional resources and personnel, including two helicopters from the National Police Headquarters and National Disaster Management Agency, have been deployed to assist in the search for the individuals.
As of the morning of Tuesday, September 2, the search and rescue teams had not located the missing persons. The SAR Head Office member Kantorsar Banjarmasin expressed the urgency of the operation, stating, “The full potential of SAR is deployed to the maximum to accelerate the discovery of helicopters and victims. We hope that with the sector’s pattern, the second-day operation can result in a bright spot.”
The extensive search for the helicopter and its passengers continues, with hopes of a breakthrough in locating the missing individuals. People Magazine reached out to Eastindo Air for further comments on the incident, awaiting any updates or developments regarding the ongoing search and rescue mission.
The urgency and intensity of the search efforts underline the gravity of the situation, as families and loved ones anxiously await news of the missing passengers. The collaborative efforts of SAR teams and additional agencies underscore the commitment to locating the helicopter and bringing closure to the concerning disappearance over the Indonesian forests.