Bali Helicopter Crash Victim Speaks Out About Terrifying Flight

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Following the horror helicopter crash on Friday, 19th July, one of the passengers aboard the flight has shared his experience with the media.

Australian tourist, 49-year-old Chris Marrot-Castellat, was aboard a sightseeing flight over the Bukit Peninsula when the aircraft became tangled in kite strings. 

The incident took place just minutes after the helicopter took off from the GWK Cultural Park close to Uluwatu at 2.33pm.

The helicopter is reported to have crashed at 2.37pm landing between the limestone cliffs close to Suluban Beach.

First responders immediately attended to the scene, as well as community members who saw the incident happen. Bali Search and Rescue teams rushed to the scene as soon as they got the call. 

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As more details about the incident emerge, it has become clear that Marrot-Castellat, three other passengers, and the pilot have emerged from the crash, all without serious injury.

Initial reports from the scene suggested that Marrot-Castellat and friends were on board the helicopter flight as part of a real estate scouting mission; it has since been confirmed that the flight was part of birthday celebrations for Marrot-Castellat’s friend Russel Harris’ 46th birthday.

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Speaking to the press, Marrot-Castellat described how shortly after the helicopter flight began, those on board heard troubling “crouching, banging and cracking” sounds. The aircraft is now known to have become entangled in kite stings that were flying close to Suluban Beach in Uluwatu. 

Marrot-Castellat told reporters, ‘I think we traveled for about three minutes, and I felt the chopper drop roughly 20 to 30 meters…Essentially we had a bit of a rollercoaster loop downward, and that’s when I realized, “Wow, this is real.”

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On board the flight was Marrot-Castellat, Harris, his partner, the photographer and the helicopter pilot. Thankfully, Marrot-Castellat was able to call on his experience in the army seconds after the helicopter crashed.

He was able to cut the engine and then see how to help himself and his fellow passengers out of the crumpled aircraft. 

He told reporters, “I thought maybe he [the pilot] was dead because there was no response from him. I heard Kayla screaming that she couldn’t breathe. It could have been many, many scenarios, and we essentially got the best out of a bad situation.”

All on board were taken to Bali’s Siloam Hospital for medical assessment; Marrot-Castellat, Harris, and his partner have been discharged. 

Following the incident the Regional Secretary of Bali has called on the public to fly kites responsibly in Bali, and in accordance with the law.

Dewa Made Indra told the public in a press conference how “Law No. 9 of 2000 Article 2 paragraph 1 mentions the prohibition of raising kites and similar games in areas within a radius of 5 nautical miles or 9 kilometers from the airport.”

Indra continued, “In paragraph 3, it is forbidden to raise kites and similar games in areas between a radius of 10 nautical miles or 18 kilometers to 30 nautical miles or 54 kilometers with a height exceeding 300 meters or 1000 feet.”

He added, “Especially considering Bali as a tourism area, it is important for us as a community to maintain the safety and comfort of tourists who visit Bali. Those who raise [kites in this way] can be subject to criminal penalties, especially if an incident occurs that can harm all parties.”

The punishment for violating these laws is a maximum fine of IDR 5,000,000 or three months in prison. 

The helicopter tour was operated by Bali HeliTour, which has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident. Over the past three years, helicopter sightseeing tours have become increasingly popular in Bali, with many different providers establishing businesses on the island.

One of the most popular helicopter sightseeing routes flies over the Bukit Peninsula, focusing on the famous cliffs of Uluwatu.

Other popular routes include tours of cultural gems like Tanah Lot and more inland destinations such as Mount Batur and the Tegalalang Rice Terraces.