Indonesia keeps firefighting flights going after Super Puma crash in Barito River

Two of the three people aboard the Super Puma H-225 survived after the aircraft, registration VH-HGM, crashed into the Barito River near Tabatan Village, Kuripan Sub-district, Barito Kuala District, South Kalimantan, on Sunday, November 8. Both survivors are Australian pilots and have received medical treatment, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). The third crew member, Helicopter Landing Officer Yayan Supyansuri, an Indonesian citizen, is still missing.

The Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) sent 18 personnel to the scene at 1:10 p.m. local time. The Indonesian Air Force, the National Police, village-level military officers and local residents are also involved in the search. BNPB said its priorities are finding the missing crew member, making sure the surviving pilots get care, and securing the wreckage along the riverbank.

Acting head of BNPB's Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Berton SP Panjaitan, said the crash would not slow the country's firefighting push. “We want to stress that this incident does not diminish the government's commitment to continuing efforts to tackle forest and land fires,” he said.

BNPB is also clearing the way for an official investigation into what caused the crash, saying it wants to head off public speculation. It will run a full safety review of aerial firefighting operations, covering fleet technical readiness, water-bombing procedures, crew fitness, weather conditions and site characteristics.