KUALA LUMPUR – All 10 navy crew members who perished in the twin helicopter crash in Lumut, Perak, this morning were below the age of 40 and held various ranks, according to Defence Minister Khaled Nordin.
He also said that the victims were based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and Lumut, Perak.
According to Khaled, this was their third rehearsal for the 90th Navy Day Parade, which is scheduled to take place between May 3-7.
He said he would also be visiting the helicopter crash site today along with the armed forces chief, Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman.
Both of them will also meet with the victims’ families and gather on-the-ground information from authorities present at the scene.
The Defence Ministry will be responsible for transporting the parents of the victims from Sabah to Lumut, he said, noting that the Royal Malaysian Navy will facilitate their travel by flight.
“The death gratuity and other assistance for the victims’ families will be provided subsequently. However, our primary focus at the moment is to provide comfort during this difficult time,” he added.
When asked about the complete report on the helicopter crash, Khaled said that it would likely take nearly a month.
However, he assured that the ministry is committed to expediting its release as soon as feasible.
The helicopters, a maritime operations helicopter (HOM) and a Eurocopter Fennec, collided mid-air during a flypast training session this morning, killing all onboard.
It was reported that the AgustaWestland AW139 HOM helicopter crashed at the steps of the Navy Stadium, while the Fennec crashed near the swimming pool of the Navy Sports Complex. – April 23, 2024