Australian executive among eight dead in Borneo helicopter crash

An Australian executive was among eight people killed when a helicopter crashed on the island of Borneo at a site so remote it took rescue crews more than two days to find the wreckage.

Mark Werren was killed with everyone on board, including two other foreign nationals, when it went down in the Indonesian province of South Kalimantan on the morning of September 1.

Werren was originally identified as American, but his pulp and paper company, Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd (APRIL), confirmed to this masthead he was an Australian national.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with [the loved ones of the passengers and crew] during this extremely difficult time,” it said in a previous statement.

“We will continue to extend our full support to the families in all the necessary arrangements and in whatever help they need. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the parties involved in the search and recovery mission, who have worked tirelessly in extremely challenging conditions.”

The helicopter lost contact with air traffic control about eight minutes after departing from the airport in Kotabaru district on its way to Palangkaraya City in Central Kalimantan Province.

Along with Werren, the Airbus BK117 D-3, owned by Eastindo Air, contained five Indonesians (including the pilot), a Brazilian woman and an Indian man. Indonesian authorities were investigating the cause.

Werren was APRIL’s “senior fibre director” and “a key member of the senior leadership team”, the company said.

“He had worked with APRIL since 2014. He held a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Forestry from the University of Aberdeen and a Master of Science in Forestry from the University of Helsinki.

“Mr Werren was the only person employed by APRIL on the flight, but we mourn the loss of everyone who lost their lives in this tragic incident.

“The passengers were travelling to visit other forestry companies to share technical knowledge.”

APRIL’s centre of operations is Pangkalan Kerinci in Riau Province, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The company describes itself as “one of the largest, most technologically advanced and efficient makers of pulp and paper products in the world”, with a payroll of about 9000 people.

Werren’s company biography said he had worked as a professional forester since 1980, including in Tanzania, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, Finland and Scotland.

More than 200 rescue personnel were combing a 27-square-kilometre stretch of forest from the land and air when the wreckage was discovered on September 3. The first body was found about 100 metres away. The remaining seven were identified inside or near the helicopter, local media reported.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.

with AP

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