KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 – Malaysia was shocked on Tuesday by an air tragedy as two helicopters crashed following a mid-air collision over the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) base in Lumut, Perak, claiming the lives of all 10 crew members on board.
The heart-wrenching tragedy marks the worst helicopter crash in the country since nine years ago and the eighth incident to occur within the same period.
The deadliest helicopter accident prior to this occurred on May 5, 2016, when a Eurocopter AS350 helicopter crashed near Sebuyau, Sarawak, claiming six lives, including the then Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon, and Kuala Kangsar MP, Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad.
In yesterday’s tragedy at 9.32 am, TLDM confirmed the deaths of 10 of its personnel, involving seven crew members of the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and three crew members of the TLDM Fennec.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the HOM-AW139 helicopter crashed on the TLDM Lumut Stadium field, while the Fennec aircraft crashed into the TLDM Lumut Sports Complex swimming pool. All the families of the victims have been informed for identification purposes.
The post-mortem for the victims is currently underway at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the two helicopters were undergoing a rehearsal for the third time in conjunction with the Royal Malaysian Navy Fleet Open Day scheduled for this Saturday.
He said the 10 victims were based in Lumut and Kota Kinabalu, adding that TLDM will set up an investigation board to identify the cause of the incident.
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia expressed his sadness and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims.
“I and Raja Zarith are deeply saddened by the loss of our nation’s heroes in this tragedy. Al-Fatihah and our heartfelt condolences over their passing,” His Majesty said in a Facebook post.
Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, meanwhile, consented to the cancellation of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (TLDM) 90th Anniversary celebrations and parade, which was scheduled for this Friday.
According to a post uploaded on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page, a Yasin recital, tahlil and ‘doa selamat’ will be held at the An-Nur Mosque at the TLDM base in Lumut before Friday prayers and Sultan Sharafuddin, as TLDM Captain-in-Chief, is expected to attend the event.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his Facebook post, said the nation mourned the heart-wrenching tragedy.
