A Flying Doctor Service helicopter carrying four Health Ministry personnel and a pilot crashed near Long Lellang, with SAR operations underway.
PETALING JAYA: Five people, including a pilot and four Health Ministry personnel, were on board a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter that crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport in Sarawak this afternoon.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the helicopter, which departed from Miri, was carrying a medical officer, assistant medical officer and two nurses who were on official duty.
He said the condition and whereabouts of all five people remained unconfirmed as search and rescue (SAR) operations were still underway.
“I am deeply saddened upon receiving the initial report regarding the incident involving a Health Ministry Flying Doctor Service helicopter, which was reported to have crashed this afternoon,” he said in a statement today.
Dzulkefly said SAR teams, together with medical personnel and the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), were already at the crash site near the Long Lellang STOLport and conducting operations.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed that the aircraft involved was a BO-105 helicopter bearing registration number 9M-LLF.
CAAM said it received notification of the incident from the Flight Information Service at 3.58pm.
“The helicopter was operating a Flying Doctor Service flight with five people on board, including the pilot,” it said in a statement.
CAAM, however, did not provide details on the condition of the pilot or passengers.
Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry was closely monitoring the situation and working with security authorities, rescue teams and relevant aviation agencies to obtain accurate and updated information from the scene.
He added that the ministry was also contacting the next-of-kin and family members of those involved to provide the necessary support.
Meanwhile, the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry will investigate the incident in accordance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016, CAAM said.
Dzulkefly urged the media and public not to speculate or circulate unverified information while the SAR operation was ongoing, stressing the need to respect the feelings of the families involved.
“Any further developments will be announced from time to time once official confirmation has been obtained from the authorities,” he said.
He also called on the public to pray for the search and rescue operation to proceed smoothly.
