Contact Loss Helicopter In South Kalimantan Mentewe Brings 8 Passengers

The Banjarmasin Basarnas received a report that the helicopter belonging to the Estindo Air type BK117 D3 that lost contact in Mentewe, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan Province (Kalsel), carried eight passengers.

"Helicopter on a flight from Kotabaru, South Kalimantan Province to Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan," said Head of the Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas) I Putu Sudayana through a video received in Banjarmasin, Monday, confiscated by Antara.

Putu explained that the helicopter took off from Wisti Sjamsir Alam Airport, Kotabaru at around 08.46 WITA with an estimate of arriving at Palangka Raya Airport at 10.15 WITA.

However, the last contact was recorded at 08.54 WITA before the plane could no longer be contacted by AirNav from Kotabaru, Banjarmasin, Balikpapan, or Palangka Raya.

"Reports of lost contact received at 12.02 WITA," said Putu.

Putu revealed that there were eight people in the helicopter, consisting of a pilot, an engineer, and six passengers.

The point of lost contact is mapped around Mantewe District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, at the coordinates determined by the search team.

Currently, Banjarmasin Basarnas coordinates with a number of parties, including Danlanud Syamsudin Noor, Provincial BPBD, Estindo Air management, Central Kalimantan Police Chief, and Central Kalimantan Police Director.

For the search, the air elements deployed were one helicopter belonging to the Directorate of Polairud Polri from Central Kalimantan and one unit of BNPB aircraft from Syamsudin Noor Airport.

In addition, the ground team from the Banjarmasin SAR Office was also dispatched to the last point of lost contact.

"Search and evacuation efforts are still being carried out by air and land," said Putu.