‘Trees first, then a cliff’: Aussie recalls moment 46th b’day helicopter trip went awry before shocking cliff crash

An Aussie in a helicopter that crashed into a rock face in Bali has recalled the moment his 46th birthday celebration trip went awry.

An Aussie has recounted the miraculous moment he and four others survived a horrific helicopter crash in Bali’s South Kuta region on his birthday, after the vehicle fell several metres down a cliff face.

Speaking exclusively to Nine News, Russell Harris revealed the moment the Bell Jet Model 5055 Helicopter crashed in cliffs at Pecatu on Friday.

“Probably three to four minutes into it, we see a kite, a bit too late,” he told the program outside a Balinese hospital.

There were five people onboard when the vehicle crashed - Mr Harris, his partner, another friend from Perth, along with two Indonesian locals and the pilot.

The flight was organised for Mr Harris’ 46th birthday celebration.

After the kite string tangled around the helicopter’s main rotor, it plummeted into a mixed-residential area near the ocean.

Russell Harris was among four people who survived a helicopter crash in Bali’s South Kuta region on Friday. Picture: Supplied / Indonesian Search & Rescue Agency (BASARNAS)

A kite string entangled around the main rotor led to the helicopter falling from the sky. Picture: Supplied / Channel 9

All five people on board were treated and three were taken to Siloam Hospital with serious injuries.

“It made us drop 3o-50m quite quickly,” Mr Harris said.

He recounted the moment the vehicle fell from the sky before it ended upside down from the cliff face.

“Trees first... I remember that,” Mr Harris said.

“Then we hit a cliff, flipped us upside down.”

The Indonesian search and rescue agency, Basarnas, reported the helicopter took off from Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) for a tour of the island from 2.33pm local time.

Basarnas reported the helicopter crashed just minutes later at 2.37pm.

Mr Harris said he was thankful the pilot managed to get control after the tangle with the kite, telling Nine News if the crash had occurred from 2-300m in the sky he and the others would not be alive.

Mr Harris told Nine News the flight was organised for his 46th birthday. Picture: Supplied / Indonesian Search & Rescue Agency (BASARNAS)

Mr Harris said he remembered hitting trees and a cliff, before the helicopter ended upside down. No-one was killed and several people, including Mr Harris, were taken to hospital. Picture: Supplied / Indonesian Search & Rescue Agency (BASARNAS)

“It’s very scary obviously, that’s my first time in a helicopter,” he said.

“It was my birthday today, that’s what it was for.”

In a statement, Indonesia’s transport ministry said: “The Directorate General of Civil Aviation Ditjen Hubud has received a report on the accident of the PK-WSP type Bell 505 helicopter belonging to PT. Whitesky Aviation.”

“Initial information is that all passengers are confirmed to have survived the accident.

“Currently, aviation inspectors from the Region IV Airport Authority Office are heading to the crash site. PT. Whitesky Aviation has also sent an investigation team to the scene.

“The Ministry of Transportation, through the Directorate General of Communications, will carry out more intensive outreach and monitoring of the dangers of kites.”