Jakarta, Sep 2 (PTI): Search and rescue efforts are ongoing for a helicopter that disappeared while flying over Indonesia’s Borneo island, with eight individuals on board, including an Indian national. The operations continued into Tuesday.
The helicopter, an Estindo Air BK 117 D3, was carrying eight people, including a pilot, an engineer, and six passengers. It lost contact on Monday near Mandin Damar Waterfall, Mentewe, in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, according to a report by the Indonesian news agency Antara.
One of the passengers on board was identified as Indian national Santha Kumar. The others were Captain Haryanto, Engineer Hendra, Mark Werren, Yudi Febrian, Andys Rissa Pasulu, Claudine Quito, and Iboy Irfan Rosa.
The aerial search operation includes two helicopters flying in shifts to ensure safety, avoiding simultaneous deployment in the same area to prevent risks to the joint search and rescue teams, as stated by I Putu Sudayana, head of the Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Agency.
In addition to the aerial search, a ground team comprising 140 personnel from various agencies and local volunteers has been deployed.
The joint team is conducting the search across a 27-square-kilometre area, working in coordination with air support, according to the report.
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