Two Malaysian military helicopters collided and crashed tragically during a training session on Tuesday, resulting in the loss of all 10 crew members on board, as reported by the country’s rescue agency.
Online footage depicted multiple helicopters flying in close formation above the Lumut naval base, situated approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) away from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The helicopters were engaged in a flypast rehearsal in preparation for the upcoming Naval Day celebrations scheduled for May.
The collision occurred when one helicopter’s rear rotor struck another, leading to both aircraft spiraling out of control and ultimately crashing.
Suhaimy Mohamad Suhail, the senior operations commander of the fire and rescue department, confirmed that the tragic incident took place during flight training, with medical officers later verifying the unfortunate demise of all 10 crew members aboard the helicopters.
The involved aircraft were identified as a Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec and an AgustaWestland AW139, according to the rescue agency. Images portrayed the heavily damaged Eurocopter amidst the wreckage on the naval base stadium track, surrounded by rescue teams and scattered debris. The AgustaWestland helicopter, on the other hand, crashed in the vicinity of the naval base’s swimming pool area.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, expressing the nation’s sorrow over the distressing tragedy. He also mentioned that an immediate investigation, spearheaded by the Ministry of Defense and the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM), would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar also conveyed his sympathies, referring to the fallen crew members as national heroes in a social media post co-shared with Queen Zarith.
In related news, helicopter accidents are not uncommon in Malaysia, with a recent incident involving the successful rescue of all four occupants aboard a Malaysian coast guard helicopter that crashed in the Strait of Malacca during a training flight. The Strait of Malacca serves as a vital shipping lane between Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
