A tragic incident occurred in Malaysia on Tuesday as two military helicopters collided and crashed during a training session, resulting in the loss of all 10 crew members on board. The country’s rescue agency confirmed the fatalities and reported that the crash took place at the Lumut naval base.
According to Suhaimy Mohamad Suhail, a senior operations commander from the fire and rescue department, “The two helicopters collided during flight training. All 10 victims on board have been confirmed dead by the medical officers.” The collision happened during a flypast rehearsal in preparation for the navy fleet’s open day celebrations in May.
Video footage shared on social media showed a formation of helicopters flying low over the Lumut naval stadium. One of the helicopters appeared to clip the rear rotor of another, causing both to enter a tailspin before crashing. The two helicopters involved in the accident were identified as a Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec and an AgustaWestland AW139.
Photos from the scene depicted the Eurocopter severely damaged in the wreckage on the naval base stadium track, with rescue personnel surrounding the area and debris scattered across the ground. The AgustaWestland helicopter crashed near the naval base’s swimming pool area.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, calling the incident “heart-wrenching and soul-wrenching.” He announced that the Ministry of Defense, including the Royal Malaysian Navy, would launch an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
Tragically, helicopter accidents are not uncommon in Malaysia. Just last month, a Malaysian coast guard helicopter crashed in the Strait of Malacca, fortunately without any fatalities. In 2016, a deputy minister and several others died in a Eurocopter AS350 crash in the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
The latest accident has sent shockwaves through the nation, with authorities pledging a thorough investigation into the causes of the collision. The Prime Minister urged for safety measures to be reviewed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
