KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) will fly out the families of the helicopter crash victims who are from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, to Lumut today.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said he would be meeting the families at the site later today.
The officers involved in the air crash were stationed in Lumut, Perak and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
"Myself and the armed forces chief will go to Lumut to observe and obtain on ground information as well as reports at the scene of the incident.
"We may hold a meeting with the families of the victims who reside there, while some families of the victims residing in Sabah will be flown to Lumut using the airforce's aircraft," he said to reporters after the Defence Ministry Hari Raya Celebration here today.
When asked about assistance to the victims' families, Khaled said the ministry would provide moral support to the next of kin, followed by other assistance according to standard disaster management operating procedures.
"We need to reassure them (the families of the victims) because this loss is irreplaceable, and it is the ministry's priority at the moment. Other assistance will be provided as usual.
"For any disaster that occurs, we will indeed channel aid and contributions to the next of kin and families of the victims," he said.
Earlier today, two armed forces helicopters crashed following a mid-air collision in Lumut. All 10 crew members perished.
The helicopters, an AgustaWestland AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM) and a Eurocopter Fennec, collided during a mid-air manoeuvre during a flypast training for the RMN 90th Anniversary celebrations.
Following the mid-air collision, the AW139 HOM helicopter crashed at the steps of the Navy Stadium while the Fennec crashed near the pool of the Navy Sports Complex.
The RMN has established an investigation board to investigate the incident.