Indonesian military helicopter crashes during firefighting operation

On November 4, 2026, an Indonesian military Mi-17V-5 helicopter crashed off the southern coast of Borneo while engaged in water-bombing operations. The aircraft, identified as tail number HA-5235, had departed from the Seruyan region in Central Kalimantan to assist in extinguishing forest fires within the Tanjung Puting National Park, a critical habitat for endangered species like Borneo orangutans.

The Indonesian army reported that the accident occurred during a water-collection maneuver. Of the eight crew members on board, two were confirmed dead, and five were successfully rescued. Search and rescue operations are currently underway to locate the final missing crew member.

This incident takes place against the backdrop of persistent forest fires that have been burning for months across Borneo, Sumatra, and Papua. The resulting toxic smoke has spread across the region, affecting air quality as far as Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and East Timor. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as rescue efforts progress.