GEORGE TOWN: The family of Commander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli is still in shock over news of his death in the mid-air collision of two Royal Malaysian Navy helicopters at the Lumut naval base this morning.
Firdaus' sister, Syahira, said the family still finds it difficult to accept what happened.
"As soon as my dad received news about the crash this morning, he, my mum and other family members left for Lumut. What happened really came as a shock to us," she said when met at her family home in Pantai Jerejak here this afternoon.
Syahira said she was still unsure of the family's plans and arrangements.
"We are awaiting news from my dad," she added.
Firdaus, 44, is the eldest of seven siblings.
"My brother is a very nice person, who sacrifices a lot for the family. We are saddened by what happened. We hope to be given the space to grieve our loss," she said.
Firdaus, who was commanding officer of the navy's 503 Squadron, leaves behind a wife and a child.
He was among 10 people killed when the AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter he was piloting collided with a Fennec helicopter.