© AP Photo/Dwiana Jati SetiajiSmoke billows from Sileri Crater after it erupted in Dieng, Central Java, Indonesia, on July 2, 2017. The crater at Dieng Plateau spewed cold lava, mud and ash as high as 164 feet into the sky when it erupted, injuring number at least 10 people.
All eight people on board were killed and at least 10 on the ground were injured when the Sileri Crater at Dieng Plateau spewed cold lava, mud and ash as high as 164 feet into the sky when it erupted on Sunday.
The aircraft went down about three minutes before arriving at the popular tourist area.
It reportedly hit a cliff on Butak Mountain in the Temanggung district of Central Java province.
Brigadier General Ivan Tito, director of operation and training at the search agency, said the victims were four navy officers and four rescuers.
He said the Indonesian-made Dauphin AS365 helicopter was airworthy.
The sudden eruption occurred while about 17 visitors were around the crater.
Soldiers and police were dispatched and residents and visitors were asked to evacuate in case of further eruptions. All visitors to the plateau were evacuated.
Sileri is the most active and dangerous among some 10 craters at Dieng Plateau.
Its most recent eruption was in 2009, when it unleashed volcanic materials up to 200 metres (656ft) and triggered the creation of three new craters.
It sits about 2,000 metres (6,600ft) above sea level.
Some 142 people were reportedly suffocated in 1979 when the volcano spewed gases.
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