The Malaysian navy identified the victims of a helicopter crash that occurred during a rehearsal for an upcoming parade. The victims included high-ranking officers and crew members from two helicopters – the HOM helicopter carrying four male crew members, including Commander Firdaus Ramli, and the Fennec helicopter carrying three male crew members, including Commander Muhamad Amir Mohamad and three female passengers. The incident also resulted in a minor injury to a navy service member who was swimming in the pool that the Fennec helicopter crashed into.
Due to the tragic accident, the navy decided to cancel the parade and instead hold a ceremony to pray for the deceased. The Fennec helicopter, which had been training for the parade for the third time, collided with the HOM helicopter, which was in training for the first time. The Fennec helicopter was based in Lumut, while the HOM helicopter had flown from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, to participate in the rehearsals. The minister confirmed that the HOM helicopter was a new addition to the navy, delivered in 2021, while the Fennec helicopter had been in operation since 2003.
Footage of the incident captured on social media showed the seven helicopters flying in formation before one of them experienced a “sideway skid.” The rotor of one helicopter hit the other, resulting in smoke and debris as both helicopters fell to the ground. While asked for the potential cause of the accident, the minister declined to speculate and emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation to respect the sensitivities of the victims’ families. He confirmed the establishment of an investigation board, with support from the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Director General of Technical Airworthiness (DGTA) to probe the incident.
The DGTA, a government agency responsible for ensuring the airworthiness of state-registered aircraft, will assist in determining if the design, production, and maintenance of the helicopters met international standards. The accident has raised concerns about the safety of military equipment and training procedures in Malaysia. The tragic loss of lives in the helicopter crash has called for a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in military operations and the importance of maintaining safety protocols and training standards to protect the lives of service members. The navy has expressed condolences to the families of the victims and is working to provide support and assistance during this difficult time.
