How did 1 crew member go missing when a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Barito River?
Quick answer: Two crew members survived and one is still missing after a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Barito River in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma, chartered by Indonesia's disaster agency, was taking part in water-bombing operations against forest and land fires when it went down around midday local time.
Key facts
- What: A firefighting helicopter crashed into a river (aviation accident)
- Where: Barito River, near Desa Tabatan, Kecamatan Kuripan, Kabupaten Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
- When: Around midday on Sunday, 8 November 2026
- Reported toll: No confirmed deaths; 2 crew members survived, 1 crew member missing
- Status: Developing — a search is under way for the missing crew member
What happened
The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma operated by ARC Helicopters and registered VH-HGM, had been chartered by Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to drop water on forest and land fires. It crashed into the Barito River near Desa Tabatan, in the Kuripan district of Barito Kuala regency, South Kalimantan, on Sunday, 8 November 2026, around midday local time.
There were three people on board. Two of them, both foreign nationals, were rescued alive. According to Kompas, local residents in fishing boats found the two survivors on the surface of the water. They were taken to the Jenamas community health centre and then referred on to hospital. The third person on board, Indonesian crew member Yayan Supyansury, a Helicopter Landing Officer, was still missing at the time of reporting.
Kompas reported that only the tail of the helicopter was visible above the surface of the river after the crash. The aircraft was said to have had difficulty climbing back up after taking water from the river, and to have lost lift before falling — that is a suspected cause, not a confirmed one.
What happens next
Search and rescue teams from Basarnas Banjarmasin and the Barito Selatan disaster agency were deployed to look for the missing crew member, with local police, military personnel and medical teams also at the scene. BNPB's acting head, Berton Panjaitan, confirmed that one person was still being searched for, while two had been found, according to Kompas. The search, and an investigation into why the helicopter went down, will continue.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Barito River helicopter crash?
No deaths had been confirmed in the reports available at the time of writing. Two crew members survived and one crew member, Yayan Supyansury, was still missing.
Where did the helicopter crash?
Into the Barito River near Desa Tabatan, in the Kuripan district of Barito Kuala regency, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, while it was fighting forest and land fires.
What was the helicopter doing?
It was a BNPB-chartered Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma, operated by ARC Helicopters, taking part in water-bombing operations against forest and land fires. It had just taken water from the river when it went down, according to early reports.
What caused the crash?
The cause had not been officially confirmed in the reports available at the time of writing. Early reporting suggested the helicopter had difficulty climbing after taking water and lost lift, but that remains unconfirmed.
*This is a developing story compiled from verified reporting; figures may change as official information is confirmed. Sources: Kompas — https://regional.kompas.com/read/2026/11/08/163518178/kronologi-helikopter-jatuh-di-sungai-barito-diduga-kesulitan-terbang-usai*
In this story
- Indonesia: live accidents and road deaths
- Driving laws in Indonesia
- Plane crashes and air incidents this month
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