JAKARTA, The Kabar News—A crew member reported missing after a firefighting helicopter crashed into the Barito River was found dead on Sunday evening, Nov. 8, ending a joint search operation that rescued two foreign pilots.

The victim was Yayan Supyansuri, an Indonesian national who served as the helicopter landing officer aboard the Super Puma registered VH-HGM. The aircraft crashed while supporting efforts to control forest and land fires in Kalimantan.

“The victim was Yayan Supyansuri, an Indonesian national who served as the helicopter landing officer,” acting BNPB spokesperson Berton S.P. Panjaitan said.

Search personnel recovered Yayan’s body at approximately 6:08 p.m. Central Indonesian Time. Divers then transported it to the Jenamas Community Health Center in South Barito regency, Central Kalimantan.

BNPB initially said the body would be transferred to Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan. Local police later said authorities would return it to the family through Banjarmasin and Jakarta on Monday, according to BNPB.

Authorities identified the two survivors as Australian citizen Michael John Betteridge and New Zealand citizen Hugh Andrew John Page. Both received medical treatment at an Indonesian Air Force hospital.

The nationality details correct BNPB’s earlier update, which initially described both survivors as Australians. BNPB also first reported that all three crew members had survived before issuing a correction that Yayan remained missing. The agency subsequently confirmed his death in its final incident update.

The helicopter was an Eurocopter EC225LP, also known as the Airbus H225 Super Puma. Some later BNPB material referred to it as an “H-255.” However, the agency’s initial report and previous deployment records identify VH-HGM as an H225.

The privately owned aircraft was under contract with BNPB for aerial firefighting. It crashed at about 11:58 a.m. while collecting water for a water-bombing mission near Desa Tabatan in the Barito River area, according to official accounts.

The Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office deployed 18 personnel at 1:10 p.m. The operation also involved disaster-management officers, the Air Force, police personnel, local military officers and residents.

“With all victims found and the joint debriefing completed, the search-and-rescue operation was declared finished,” Banjarmasin SAR chief I Putu Sudayana said, as reported by IDX Channel.

Authorities have not announced the cause of the crash. BNPB said it would support an official investigation and review the safety of its aerial firefighting operations.

The evaluation will examine the helicopter’s technical readiness, crew qualifications and water-collection procedures. Officials will also assess weather and local geographical conditions.

Police said they would coordinate with the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) and aviation authorities. They will collect witness statements and supporting records.

BNPB said ground-based firefighting would continue while officials reviewed further aircraft deployments. The investigation must now establish what caused VH-HGM to lose control. Moreover, it must determine whether operational or technical changes can prevent another accident.