JAKARTA: All eight people on board a helicopter died after it crashed in Indonesia’s western province of West Kalimantan, authorities said on Friday.
Officials said the helicopter lost contact with air traffic control about five minutes after takeoff on Thursday morning. It departed from a palm oil plantation area in Melawi.
Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said the aircraft went down in dense forest and mountainous terrain. Rescue teams faced difficult conditions while reaching the site.
Authorities confirmed that debris was recovered from the crash site, including the helicopter’s tail section. Search teams found the wreckage about three kilometres from the last known contact point.
Officials said six passengers and two crew members died at the scene.
Rescue teams, including military and police units, continued efforts to reach the crash location by land.
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Officials said a local company operated the helicopter. The flight had departed from a palm oil plantation zone.
