Helicopters That Crashed In The Central Papua Mountains Found

Screenshot of a video recording debris believed to be part of the PK-IWS helicopter that crashed in the Jila Mountains area, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, Wednesday (10/9/2025). ANTARA/HO-Basarnas

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) confirmed that the location of the PK-IWS helicopter belonging to PT Intan Angkasa (IA) was found in the mountainous area of Jila, Mimika Regency, Central Papua.

Basarnas Deputy for Operations and Preparedness Edy Prakoso said the air search team from the company managed to identify the PK-IWS helicopter crash point.

"The location is around the Jila mountains with a steep contour condition," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 10.

However, according to reports received from officers in the field, he said, the process of evacuating victims could not be carried out today due to bad weather conditions around the location.

"It is planned that the evacuation process will be carried out tomorrow morning (11/9) by the joint SAR team using helicopters belonging to the Indonesian Air Force and the company," he said.

Basarnas has not been able to confirm the identity and condition of passengers. However, in this case they asked for support and prayers from the community so that the evacuation process could run smoothly, all the victims were successfully evacuated and the joint SAR team on duty could return safely.

The Timika SAR Office reported that the PK IWS helicopter belonging to PT IA was carrying four people and was declared missing contact on Wednesday, at around 11.38 WIT.

Communication activity of PK-IWS helicopter pilots was also caught by navigation radar in Sentani, Jayapura.

The operator initially suspected that the helicopter had made an emergency landing due to bad weather conditions. However, after further confirmation, it turned out that the PK-IWS helicopter had an accident as a visual result received.

Head of the Timika SAR Operations and Alert Section Charles Y Batlajery said the fragments of the unlucky helicopter had been seen and it was confirmed that they had an accident while flying from Ilaga, Puncak Regency to Timika, Mimika Regency on Wednesday morning.