Antara News·Indonesia·Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 11:15 AM UTC

Navy recovers black box of Mi-17V5 helicopter after firefighting crash

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Walda Marison, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Navy's Diving and Underwater Rescue Command has recovered the black box (Flight Data Recorder/FDR) and tail unit of a Mi-17V5 helicopter that crashed in the waters off Kuala Pembuang, Sungai Perlu Village, Central Kalimantan.

In a statement from Fleet Command I (Koarmada I) received on Saturday, the black box search is intended to help establish the cause of the accident involving the Army Aviation Center's helicopter while handling forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan.

"The FDR was subsequently handed over to the Investigation Team to support further investigation into the helicopter crash," the press release stated.

The Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed after takeoff from Kuala Pembuang on Wednesday (November 4) at approximately 9:55 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

Previously, the soldiers aboard the helicopter were assigned to carry out firefighting operations in the Tanjung Puting National Park (TNTP) area of Central Kalimantan.

While collecting water from the waters off Sungai Perlu Village for a water bombing operation, the helicopter experienced flight difficulties and crashed into the water.

Shortly after the incident, the Indonesian Army dispatched personnel to evacuate the crew by air.

"The rescue operation was prioritized to ensure all personnel received assistance without delay," according to an official statement from the Indonesian Army.

The accident resulted in the deaths of three Indonesian Army soldiers: Lieutenant Colonel (posthumously) Dudi Firmansyah, Captain (posthumously) Nurhafiz Akbar, and First Sergeant (posthumously) Heri Prasetyo.

Meanwhile, the five surviving helicopter crew members consisted of Captain Febri, Second Lieutenant Fercis, Private Gilang, Sergeant Kadiya, and Captain Suganda.

On Friday (November 6), Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni visited the five crew members currently being treated at the TNI AD Tk Hospital. III Dr. R. Soeharsono, Banjarmasin.

According to him, some crew members would be transferred to hospitals in Jakarta and Semarang for further treatment. He also expressed hope for the injured personnel’s speedy recovery.

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