Two Survivors Named After Firefighting Helicopter Crash in Borneo
Australian Michael Betteridge and New Zealander Hugh Page survived when their firefighting helicopter nosedived into the Barito River in South Kalimantan. Navigator Yayan Supyansuri died. Indonesia's disaster agency has promised a safety review of aerial operations.
Two survivors of a fatal helicopter crash in Indonesia have been named as Australian Michael Betteridge and New Zealander Hugh Page, local authorities said. Their helicopter nosedived into the Barito River in South Kalimantan province on Borneo island while collecting water to fight fires.
A third crew member, Indonesian navigator Yayan Supyansuri, died. Rescue teams found his body the same day.
Video posted online shows people pulling Betteridge and Page from the water shortly after the crash. Both were treated at a military hospital.
The helicopter was contracted to Indonesian authorities to help fight the country's worst forest and land fire season in more than a decade. Investigators have not yet established what caused the crash.
"The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is committed to facilitating an official investigation by the relevant authorities to determine the exact cause of the crash," BNPB spokesperson Berton SP Panjaitan said.
He said BNPB will also carry out a comprehensive safety evaluation of aerial operations. The review will cover the technical readiness of the fleet, water-bombing procedures, aircrew fitness and qualifications, weather conditions and site-specific characteristics.
Consular help for both nationals
A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was "providing consular assistance to an Australian who was rescued safely following a helicopter crash in Indonesia". Australian officials are in close contact with local authorities, the spokesperson said.
New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of the crash. Its embassy in Jakarta was making further enquiries.
Second water-bombing crash this month
The crash follows another one on November 4 in Central Kalimantan. Three Indonesian crew were killed when a separate water-bombing helicopter went down. That aircraft was carrying eight crew and also crashed while loading water.
Fires have been burning across large areas of Indonesia, particularly in Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of Borneo, as well as in Sumatra and Papua. They often burn in peatland, which is notoriously hard to extinguish because embers keep smoldering deep underground.
Indonesia's environment minister said more than 100,000 personnel have fought fires across the country this year. The health ministry said toxic smoke and haze have caused more than 400,000 acute respiratory infections.
The fires are commonly linked to land-clearing operations. Indonesian authorities have accused more than 240 people and 20 companies of lighting fires deliberately or negligently.
