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Brinchang heli crash: Three seriously hurt, rescue efforts ongoing

IPOH: Three people were seriously hurt when the helicopter they were in crashed into a jungle in Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.

A Perak Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson said there were six people, including the pilot on board when the helicopter went down.

He said the department received a distress call at 2.06pm.

"Efforts to bring the victims down are ongoing. A team of firemen from Tapah, assisted by Cameron Highlands were dispatched to the scene.

"The incident occurred between the Perak and Pahang border, near De Garden Enterprise, Cameron Highlands," he said.

The helicopter departed from Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here to Brinchang when it is believed to have crashed about 1.15pm.

It is leant that the helicopter was carrying medical staff and medical equipment to the highlands.

In Putrajaya, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said it was notified by an operator of an air accident involving an Airbus Helicopters AS 355 F2, registration marking 9M-SSW near Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang at 1.03pm today.

CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Chester Voo said the helicopter, operated by Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd, departed from Kampung Gawin for Tanjung Rambutan, Perak at 12.20pm.

"There were one pilot and five passengers on board.

"CAAM Emergency Operations Control (EOC) and the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) at Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (KLATCC) in Sepang, Selangor was activated immediately at 1.11pm.

"The first Search and Rescue (SAR) land unit was dispatched to the probable location within 19 minutes and the efforts are ongoing," he said in a statement.

He said, the Air Accident Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Transport Malaysia would conduct an investigation into the incident in accordance with Part XXVI Civil Aviation Regulations 2016.

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