KUALA LUMPUR – The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) will set up an investigation board to determine the cause of the incident in which two helicopters collided and crashed in Lumut, Perak this morning.
It also urged the public not to share the crash video out of respect for the sensitivity of the victims’ families and the investigation process.
In a statement today, the navy confirmed that no victims survived the incident involving the navy’s AW139 maritime operations helicopter and a Fennec helicopter.
“The RMN confirms that a RMN Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and a Fennec helicopter crashed during a rehearsal for the 90th Navy Day Parade at the RMN Lumut base at 9.32am this morning,” it read.
“This incident involved a total of 10 personnel, comprising seven RMN HOM crew members and three RMN Fennec crew members. All victims were confirmed deceased at the scene and were sent to the Lumut RMN base military hospital for identification processes,” it said.
It is believed that both helicopters were engaged in formation training as part of the preparations for Navy Day, which is scheduled to take place from May 3 to May 5.
Earlier this morning, Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, when contacted, confirmed the crash and that 10 people were killed.
Speaking to Scoop, he said that police are currently gathering information about the incident.
A viral video from earlier today showed about seven helicopters flying together before two collided mid-air and crashed.
Debris from the helicopter can be seen falling to the ground close to the area where hundreds of navy personnel were engaged in marching drills. – April 23, 2024