Forest Hoarding Makes It Difficult To Search For Explosioning Helicopters Falling In Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan

The SAR team during an operation to search for air routes for BK117 D3 helicopters that lost contact in a mountainous forest area, Mandin Damar Village, Tanah Bumbul, South Kalimantan.ANTARA/HO-SAR Banjarmasin

The Joint Search and Rescue (SAR) Team from elements of the air and land said the characteristics of the wilderness with very heavy rims made it difficult for the search for BK117 D3 helicopters that lost contact around the Mandin Damar Waterfall, Mentewe, Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan.

Head of the Banjarmasin SAR Office I Putu Sudayana said the second day of operation temporarily ended at 18.00 WITA.

The forest fall if the object falls from above, the object is immediately closed. The wilderness forest has many large trees, close plants, the stockpiling immediately closes every object that falls from above," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 2.

Then the second challenge, he said the weather in the forest area changes all the time, unpredictable for a long time.

"The weather factor is the main obstacle for air SAR," said Putu.

He said that since 14.00 WITA, there has been heavy rain that is at risk for the safety of the SAR Team, especially the air. So that one Search and Rescue Unit (SRU) air operates only at 07.50-11.30 WITA using a helicopter belonging to the BNPB RI. As a result, there is still zero, no progress on the target has been found.

Then from the ground SRU that carried out the search operation, starting at 07.00-18.00 WITA, they also did not find any definite signs of debris or the physicalities of the missing helicopter at the coordinates of the search that had previously been mapped.

Although it has not yielded results, Putu emphasized that all SAR elements in the field involved have tried their best.

In fact, the ground SRU has covered the last point of the helicopter via flightradar obtained from the center. Including information through information from local residents who saw helicoptersusing and allegedly exploding before they disappeared from the view of residents.

Putu said the SAR team would continue the search for the third day on Wednesday (3/9) and a thorough coordination and evaluation meeting would be preceded by the SAR Team.

"After the meeting, we will continue to plan the third day of operation. Thank you to all parties involved. Hopefully, the target can be found safe," said Putu.

The joint SAR team consists of elements of Basarnas, TNI, Polri, BPBD, local governments, volunteers and the local community.

The Estindo Air BK117 D3 type helicopter lost contact while flying around Mentewe, Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan Province on Monday (1/9) at around 08.54 WITA.

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 with a flight route from Kotabaru, South Kalimantan to Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, was previously reported by the Banjarmasin SAR Office, which is estimated to have fallen 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, Central Kalimantan, and then reports of lost contacts received at 12.02 WITA.