On Thursday, April 16, 2026, an Airbus H130 helicopter operated by PT Matthew Air Nusantara crashed in a dense, remote forest in the Sekadau district of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The aircraft, which had departed from a plantation in the Melawi district, lost contact with air traffic control just five minutes after takeoff. Following an urgent search and rescue operation, authorities confirmed on Friday, April 17, that all eight individuals on board—two crew members and six passengers—have died. Among those lost was a Malaysian national.

The wreckage was located in difficult terrain, complicating recovery efforts for the joint search team, which included members of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the Indonesian Air Force. The recovered bodies have been transported to Bhayangkara Hospital in Pontianak for identification. While an official investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway, aviation officials have urged the public to refrain from speculation as they work to secure the site and analyze flight data. This incident has once again highlighted the ongoing transportation safety challenges in Indonesia’s sprawling archipelago