KUALA LUMPUR: The remains of the two people killed in a helicopter crash in Taman Melawati on Sunday were released for burial following the completion of their respective post-mortem examinations at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhkriz UKM, here, today.
There had been a delay in the release of the remains of Commander (Rtd) Mohamed Sabri Baharom and Mohd Irfan Fikri Mohd Rawi to their families due to Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures that state that pathologists can only perform post-mortem examinations after receiving the results of Covid-19 tests.
The remains of 56-year-old former naval commander Sabri was released to Royal Malaysian Navy personnel present at the mortuary about 12.30pm while Irfan's remains were taken to Subang Jaya.
A source told the New Straits Times that Sabri's body was taken to the Khalid Al-Walid mosque near the Defence Ministry for prayers, before burial at Raudhatul Sakinah cemetery in Batu Caves later today.
The remains of Ifran, a father of five from Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, were taken to Surau Taman Puncak Jalil in Subang, before burial at the USJ 22 Muslim cemetery.
The duo were killed when their French-made Guimbal Cabri G2 light helicopter, in blue livery with the registration number of 9M-HCB, plunged to the ground after it was grazed in mid-ar by a similar make helicopter.
The pilot and co-pilot in the second helicopter, former Malaysia Airlines chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, 66, and Tan Chai Eian, 51, in a helicopter with red livery and bearing registration number 9M-HCA, managed to escape with minor injuries after making an emergency landing at a nearby school shortly afterwards.
All four are members of the My Heli Club, a private social network of helicopter enthusiasts. Jauhari is president of the club, while Sabri was its chief instructor.
Both the helicopters belong to the Subang based club.
Earlier, a few relatives of the deceased who were seen entering the mortuary building, politely declined to be interviewed by the press gathered outside.