IPOH: The site of the helicopter crash at the Chikus Forest Reserve near Kampung Kenangan, Bidor has been locked down to enable air crash investigators to conduct a probe on the incident.
Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said police were monitoring the area while the investigation is being carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau and the police's Forensic Division.
"The investigation at the scene of the incident began today. Once the investigation is completed, the helicopter wreckage will be handed over to the owner for further action," he said in a statement today.
Yusri said the autopsy on the helicopter pilot, Hong Kong native Richard Chan Tsz Kin, began at the Forensic Department of Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital at 9am today.
He said police were informed that the victim's wife was still abroad and is expected to arrive in Malaysia soon.
"The police would like to thank all agencies and volunteers involved in the search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate the aircraft and the victim," he added.
The privately-owned Eurocopter EC120B helicopter lost contact with Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control on Saturday at 12.16pm.
The helicopter took off from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, Selangor at 11.37am on Sunday for a private flight and was scheduled to land at 12.37pm at the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here.
A SAR mission was mounted shortly after authorities failed to contact the pilot.
Rescuers yesterday found the location of the wreckage and recovered Chan's body from the cockpit.
Police said there were no explosion marks or burns at the crash site.
Investigations on the cause of the crash are still ongoing.