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Australia sends two aircraft to fight Indonesia's wildfires

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Australia's New South Wales Rural Fire Service will send a C-130 Hercules and a Cessna Citation to help Indonesia from 6 November to 12 November. The move follows a helicopter crash in Central Kalimantan that killed three people.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency said the Australian aircraft will support its waterbombing operations. The agency's chief, Kristomei Sianturi, said Indonesia is making great efforts to control the fires. He said these include waterbombing, cloud seeding and help from foreign partners.

An Indonesian waterbombing helicopter crashed on Wednesday in Central Kalimantan while it loaded water. Three crew died and several others were hurt. The transport ministry said the helicopter carried eight crew.

The large Australian air tanker can drop 15,000 litres of water per sortie. It can fly an estimated six sorties a day.

The fires are the most intense in Indonesia in 11 years. As of 2 November, more than 400,000 cases of acute respiratory infection were recorded in seven provinces.

Key facts

Who
Roderick Bruce Brazier (Australia's ambassador to Indonesia); Kristomei Sianturi (chief of Indonesia's disaster agency); New South Wales Rural Fire Service (Australian agency dispatching aircraft); Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency (issued statement on Australian support)
What
Australia's New South Wales Rural Fire Service is sending a C-130 Hercules and a Cessna Citation aircraft to support Indonesia's firefighting from November 6 to 12, according to Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency. An Indonesian waterbombing helicopter crashed on Wednesday in Central Kalimantan, killing three crew.
When
5 November 2026
Where
Indonesia, Australia, Central Kalimantan
Status
Reported

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