Four perish in heli crash at Papua, Indonesia

Four people were killed when a Bell 206 helicopter crashed in the district of Nabire, in the Papua province of eastern Indonesia.

According to online media reports, in the 8.15am crash, the helicopter belonging to PT Amur had lost contact with the control tower in Bayabiru, a gold mining area in Papua.

Head of Communications and Public Information in the Ministry of Transportation Indonesia, Hemi Pamuraharjo was quoted as saying that the helicopter crashed while attempting to land at a clearing in Cirowo 99.

He said authorities rushed to the scene after receiving information about the crash, and the pilot of the helicopter known as Karmana, died at the scene.

Three others on board the ill-fated chopper, identified as Ajo, Aswar and Darwis, were seriously injured, and died on the way to a nearby hospital.

"We have not received complete information about the incident, but can confirm that four people were killed in the crash," he said.