Helicopter with 8 Aboard Missing in Indonesia's Borneo Jungle

Jakarta, Sep 1 (AP) – A helicopter carrying eight individuals went out of contact in Indonesia's Borneo rainforest merely minutes after takeoff, officials confirmed on Monday.

The Airbus BK117 D-3, owned by Eastindo Air, had departed from the airport in Kotabaru district, situated in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, at 08:46 am. Its destination was Palangkaraya city in Central Kalimantan province.

The aircraft was scheduled to arrive in Palangkaraya by 10:15 am, but its final interaction with air traffic control took place at 08:54 am.

The Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Agency was informed of the missing helicopter at 12:02 pm, according to I Putu Sudayana, head of the agency.

Sudayana noted that the helicopter, which was transporting one pilot, one engineer, and six passengers, likely lost contact over the Mantewe forest area in Tanahbumbu district.

Rescue teams were deployed both by land and air, including a helicopter typically used for firefighting efforts.

Sudayana expressed, "Our hope is to pinpoint the site today and to find everyone on board safe and unharmed.” (AP) GSP

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)