Helicopter carrying eight crashes in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
All eight people aboard a helicopter died after it crashed in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province on April 16, 2026. The aircraft, an Airbus H130 operated by PT Matthew Air Nusantara, lost contact about five minutes after takeoff from a plantation area, and rescuers later found the wreckage in dense, hilly forest.
What is known
-
The helicopter was carrying six passengers and two crew members.
-
Search teams located debris and bodies in a forested area of Sekadau district.
-
At least one victim was reported to be a Malaysian national.
-
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The helicopter was flying between palm oil plantation sites in West Kalimantan on the Indonesian part of Borneo. It reportedly departed from Melawi district and was headed toward Kubu Raya district when it went down.
Indonesia has a long record of transportation accidents, including aviation and ferry disasters, because of its vast archipelago and challenging terrain. That context helps explain why rescue operations in remote forest areas can be especially difficult.
