KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia was shocked yesterday by an air tragedy as two helicopters crashed following a mid-air collision over the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Lumut, Perak, claiming the lives of all 10 crew members on board.
The heart-wrenching tragedy marks the worst helicopter crash in the country since nine years ago and the eighth incident to occur within the same period.
The deadliest helicopter accident prior to this occurred on May 5, 2016, when a Eurocopter AS350 helicopter crashed near Sebuyau, Sarawak, claiming six lives, including the then Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon, and Kuala Kangsar MP, Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad.
In yesterday's tragedy at 9.32am, the RMN confirmed the deaths of 10 of its personnel, involving seven crew members of the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and three crew members of the RMN Fennec.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the HOM-AW139 helicopter crashed on the RMN Lumut Stadium field, while the Fennec aircraft crashed into the Navy Sports Complex swimming pool. All the families of the victims have been informed for identification purposes.
The post-mortem for the victims is currently underway at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh, after all of them were recovered from the two aircraft wreckage sites earlier.
According to HRPB Deputy medical director (I) HRPB, Dr Liaw Kok Toon, the post-mortem process is expected to be completed by noon today.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the two helicopters were undergoing a rehearsal for the third time in conjunction with the RMN Fleet Open Day scheduled for this Saturday.
He said the 10 victims were based in Lumut and Kota Kinabalu, adding that the RMN will set up an investigation board to identify the cause of the incident.
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia expressed his sadness and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims.
In a Facebook post, Sultan Ibrahim ordered the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to conduct a thorough investigation to get full information on the incident.
"I and Raja Zarith are deeply saddened by the loss of our nation's heroes in this tragedy. Al-Fatihah and our heartfelt condolences over their passing," His Majesty said.
Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, meanwhile, consented to the cancellation of the RMN's 90th Anniversary celebrations and parade, which was scheduled for this Friday.
According to a post uploaded on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page today, a Yasin recital, tahlil and 'doa selamat' will be held at the An-Nur Mosque at the RMN base in Lumut before Friday prayers and Sultan Sharafuddin, as RMN Captain-in-Chief, is expected to attend the event.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his Facebook post, said the nation mourned the heart-wrenching tragedy.
Anwar said the tragedy had deeply affected the Malaysian Armed Forces family and was a great loss for the country, besides extending his condolences to all the families of the victims and praying that they would be given strength in facing the tragedy.
"I have been informed that an immediate investigation will be conducted by the Ministry of Defence, especially the RMN, to determine the cause of the accident," said the prime minister.
In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof hopes that no one will speculate on the incident.
Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said all parties also need to respect the victims' families by refraining from sharing any images and video clips of the incident to respect the sensitivities of the families.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil also shared the same sentiment and advised media practitioners and the public against circulating the video clips of the tragedy out of respect for the relatives and families of the victims involved in the crash as the clips would affect them.
"I will ask the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) to study and if need be take whatever is required as with any crash we need to give space for family members and not to spread the videos," he told reporters at Wisma Bernama yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and several Menteris Besar, including Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nasuruddin Daud also conveyed their condolences.
The 10 RMN crew members killed in the crash were Squadron 502 commanding officer Commander Muhamad Amir Mohamad; Lieutenant T Sivasutan (Squadron 502 pilot) and Warrant Officer II Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Termizi (Squadron 502 Air Quartermaster).
Others killed were Squadron 503 Commanding Officer Commander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli; Lt Commander Wan Rezaudeen Kamal Zainal Abidin; Squadron 503 Air Tactical Officer, Lt Commander Mohammad Amirulfaris Mohd Marzukhi; and Squadron 503 Air Quartermaster Warrant Officer II Muhammad Faisol Tamadun.
The three female navy personnel killed in the collision were Able Seaman I Joanna Felicia anak Rohna from the RMN Air Base, Warrant Officer II Norfarahimi Saedy (West Armada Supply Depot) as well as Petty Officer Nor Rahiza Anuar (West Armada Supply Depot). – BERNAMA