KUALA LUMPUR — A BO-105 helicopter carrying five people crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport in Sarawak this afternoon while operating a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) flight.
The condition of those on board, including the pilot, has yet to be confirmed.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said the helicopter, registered as 9M-LLF, crashed near the airstrip.
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 persons on board, including the pilot,” it said in a statement.
CAAM did not provide details on the condition of the pilot and four passengers.
According to The Borneo Post, Sarawak Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala also confirmed the incident after being informed by residents in Long Lellang.
Gerawat said he subsequently alerted Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd, the company operating the helicopter for the FDS.
He said the helicopter was heading towards Long Lellang when the crash occurred, although he could not confirm its point of departure.
The incident is understood to have occurred at around 3pm, with photographs and videos purportedly showing the crash site later circulating on social media.
Gerawat said he could not confirm whether there were any fatalities or provide details on the condition of those on board, adding that further information would have to come from the operator and relevant authorities.
Marudi police chief DSP Nor Aizan Mohd Jamil also told The Borneo Post that police had yet to receive a report on the incident.
Meanwhile, a netizen earlier posted photographs and videos on Facebook purportedly showing the helicopter wreckage, with thick clouds of smoke seen billowing from the site.
The authenticity of the material circulating on social media could not immediately be independently verified.
CAAM said the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), under the Transport Ministry, would investigate the incident in accordance with Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016.
The FDS was introduced as a pilot project in Sarawak in September 1973 to improve healthcare access for communities in remote and difficult-to-reach areas.
Long Lellang is located about 310km by road from Miri, underscoring the importance of air services in providing access to remote communities in the region.
Further details, including the condition of those on board and the circumstances surrounding the crash, are expected from the relevant authorities. — September 8, 2026