Second Day Of Search For Contact Loss Helicopters In Tanah Bumbu, 140 Personnel Deployed

Im SAR air is preparing to carry out an operation to search for BK117 D3 helicopters that lost contact on the second day in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, Tuesday (2/9/2025). (ANTARA)

The combined SAR team from air and land elements conducted a second day of search for the BK117 D3 helicopter belonging to Estindo Air, which lost contact around the Mandian Damar Waterfall, Mentewe, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan (Kalsel).

Head of the Banjarmasin SAR Office I Putu Sudayana said the search for air routes used two defense equipment belonging to the National Police Headquarters and BNPB RI.

The helicopter from the National Police Headquarters moved from Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan (Kalteng) directly to Syamsudin Noor Airport, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan. This helicopter will land and wait at the airport first," Putu said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 2.

Putu said the second defense equipment, a helicopter belonging to BNPB that would first carry out SAR operations, began to move around 07.50 WITA to the designated location, which is suspected to be the last point for the helicopter to lose contact.

"Helicopter from the National Police Headquarters will carry out operations after the BNPB helicopter returns. Helicopters take turns taking safety into account," he said.

Putu explained that if two helicopters search at the same point, they will be at risk for the safety of the SAR Team, so that the two helicopters take turns carrying out the search.

Then, his party deployed 140 ground SAR teams from joint elements, namely personnel from the South Kalimantan Regional Police, Central Kalimantan Police, Palangka Raya SAR Office, Korem 101/Antasari, South Kalimantan Police Mobile Brigade, South Kalimantan BPBD, Tanah Bumbu BPBD, Tanah Bumbu Police, Tanah Bumbu Kodim, Tanah Bumbu Regency Government, Syamsudin Noor Banjarbaru Air Base, and all potential SAR, as well as surrounding communities. incident.

Putu said 140 joint personnel would conduct searches in an area of 27 square kilometers, with air elements collaboration.

"Please pray that this second day's operation will produce results to find a helicopter that lost contact," said Putu.

The type BK117 D3 helicopter belonging to Estindo Air carrying eight passengers including the pilot, lost contact while flying around Mentewe, Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, Monday (1/9).

The helicopter carried eight people, consisting of a pilot, an engineer, and six passengers, namely Capt. Haryanto, Eng Hendra, Mark Werren, Yudi Febrian, Andys Rissa Pasulu, Santha Kumar, Claudine Quito, and Iboy Irfan Rosa.

The helicopter belonging to Estindo Air Type BK117 D3 with flight routes from Kotabaru, South Kalimantan to Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan was previously reported by the Banjarmasin SAR Office which is expected to fall around the Mandin Damar Waterfall, Mentewe District, Tanah Bumbu Regency.

The helicopter took off from Syamsir Alam Airport, Kotabaru Regency, South Kalimantan on Monday (1/9) at around 08.46 WITA with an estimated arrival 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 and Palangka Raya City, and then reports of lost contact received at 12.02 WITA.