JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A rescue team on Wednesday reached the site of a helicopter crash on Borneo, recovering one body, authorities said. Seven people remain unaccounted for.
The discovery in the tropical island's forests came after three days of searching for the helicopter, which went down with eight people on board.
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In this photo released by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, rescuers inspect the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed with passengers on board, in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
In this photo released by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, a rescuer inspects the burnt out wreckage of a helicopter that crashed with passengers on board, in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
In this photo made from video released by Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS Banjarmasin) on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, pilots control their aircraft during the search operation for a helicopter that went missing over the forests of Borneo with a number of people on board, near Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BASARNAS Banjarmasin via AP)
In this photo released by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, rescuers inspect the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed with passengers on board, in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
Rescuers recovered one body about 100 meters from the helicopter. Initial observations from the team indicate that more victims were still inside the aircraft.
But the exact number couldn't be confirmed because of worsening weather and the darkness, said Yudhi Bramantyo, operational director of the National Search and Rescue Agency.
“The condition of the helicopter is clearly burnt, so it will be necessary to dismantle the aircraft to confirm the number of victims inside,” Bramantyo said.
The Airbus BK117 D-3, owned by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control eight minutes after departing from the airport in Kotabaru district in Indonesia’s South Kalimantan province on Monday. The aircraft was on its way to Palangkaraya City in Central Kalimantan Province.
Three foreign nationals — an American, a Brazilian and an Indian — are among the eight people who were on board the helicopter.
More than 200 personnel from a joint team, including police, military, local agencies, residents and volunteers, were sent by land and air to comb a 27-square-kilometer (10-square-mile) stretch of forest in Mantewe, Tanahbumbu district.
The operation was supported by five helicopters, which took turns sweeping the area. The search has been hampered by bad weather.
Following Wednesday afternoon’s discovery, ground search teams have been redirected to the site to assist with recovery efforts.
In this photo released by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, rescuers inspect the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed with passengers on board, in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
In this photo released by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, a rescuer inspects the burnt out wreckage of a helicopter that crashed with passengers on board, in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
In this photo made from video released by Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS Banjarmasin) on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, pilots control their aircraft during the search operation for a helicopter that went missing over the forests of Borneo with a number of people on board, near Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BASARNAS Banjarmasin via AP)
In this photo released by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, rescuers inspect the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed with passengers on board, in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
Say goodbye to DRS, and hello to a battery power boost.
Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked the last time Formula 1 uses the Drag Reduction System overtaking aid, introduced in 2011. Next year, drivers will have to manage the car's systems more closely than ever with a more visible role for aerodynamic and electrical technology.
After a season-long title battle ended with Lando Norris' first title, here's what to expect in 2026:
The biggest regulation changes in years make cars shorter, narrower and lighter, with movable “active aerodynamics” — X-mode for straight-line speed, Z-mode for cornering — and more reliance on electric hybrid power.
The FIA's target was for electrical power to make up half of total output along with a traditional V6 turbo engine. Instead of DRS, drivers can deploy extra electrical power at key moments. That makes driving even more strategic but could lead to drivers lifting off the power and coasting on some straights to allow the electrical systems to harvest energy.
The FIA claims the rules emphasize driver skill but there have been mixed reviews from those who've tried 2026 designs in their teams' simulators.
Smaller, more agile cars could help overtaking but the fastest and slowest cars may be up to four seconds per lap apart on pace, tire supplier Pirelli has reported. In F1 terms, that's an eternity. Expect to see more engine failures as teams balance reliability with performance.
Could this be the year Lewis Hamilton finds his form again at Ferrari and chases an eighth title? Maybe not.
Even though he never got on with the 2022-25 cars, Hamilton told the BBC he was “not looking forward” to 2026 after the Las Vegas Grand Prix last month, yet another disappointment since he joined Ferrari.
Mercedes has designed some of F1's most dominant engines before, but its eye-catching “zero-pod” aerodynamic concept was a bust when the last regulation period began in 2022. Get both aspects right this time and George Russell could be a title contender after two wins in 2025.
Another team to watch is Aston Martin, which has its first car created with design great Adrian Newey in charge, and is hoping it can make two-time champion Fernando Alonso an F1 race winner for the first time in 13 years. Williams too could make a step forward after abandoning its 2025 projects early to focus on 2026.
The F1 grid expands to 22 cars for the first time since 2016 as Cadillac becomes the 11th team with backing from General Motors.
The newest team will have two of the most experienced drivers as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez return, with a combined 16 wins and 527 starts between them.
The American team has been taking lessons from NASA space programs and has a British boss who compares himself to an “inverse Ted Lasso” for the culture shock of working in U.S. auto racing.
British 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad will be the only rookie in 2026 at Racing Bulls. Eight of 10 existing teams have played it safe with the same driver lineup so the only other change is Isack Hadjar moving up to Red Bull to join Verstappen. Yuki Tsunoda drops into a reserve role.
The Madring is the one new circuit on the 2026 calendar. The Madrid street circuit takes over the Spanish Grand Prix title from Barcelona, which stays on the calendar as Spain gets a second race for the first time since 2012.
That means no space for Italy's second F1, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the Imola circuit, which has held five races since 2020.
After 2025's red-carpet season launch show in London, the start of the 2026 season will be low-key.
The new cars hit the track for the first time at a private test in Spain starting Jan. 26.
There are two more open testing sessions in Bahrain in February before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates after becoming a world champion after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Crowd erupts as McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain reacts on the podium after becoming the Formula One world champion following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, as the sun sets behind the track. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
