Medical helicopter crashes in Malaysia, killing five — Channel NewsAsia
A Flying Doctor Service helicopter crashed in the state of Sarawak in northern Malaysia on September 8. Five people were killed: the pilot, a doctor, an assistant medical officer and two nurses. The crash occurred near the Long Lellang short take-off and landing airfield in the Marudi district.
Circumstances of the crash
According to preliminary information from the Miri Airport Fire and Rescue Service, the helicopter fell near the end of the runway at about 15:40. Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed that the deceased medical workers were carrying out an official assignment.
The Flying Doctor Service uses aviation to provide medical care, emergency transportation and clinical services in remote or isolated regions. Long Lellang is located about 930 km from Kuching, the capital of Sarawak state, while the nearest major city is Miri, situated approximately 310 km away.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Investigation and identification
As Channel NewsAsia reports, a team from the Air Accident Investigation Bureau was expected to arrive in Miri at 14:00 on September 9 to assist in establishing the circumstances of the crash. According to Norasman Mahmud, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, the crash site was cordoned off and placed under guard, while the helicopter wreckage would not be moved on investigators' instructions.
Police will conduct the identification of the deceased and the investigation at Miri Hospital, including comparing the victims' DNA with samples from their relatives. One of those killed was doctor Ainul Baroa Kamaruddin from Kelantan state. The identities of the other victims had not yet been disclosed at the time of publication.
