KUALA LUMPUR – All five people aboard a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter were killed after the aircraft crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport in the interior of Baram yesterday.
The victims comprised the pilot and four Health Ministry (MoH) personnel, including medical officer Dr Ainul Baroah Kamaruddin, a medical assistant and two nurses.
The BO-105 helicopter, bearing registration 9M-LLF and operated by Layang-Layang Aerospace, was flying from Miri Airport to Long Lellang when it crashed at the end of the runway at about 3.40pm.
Miri Resident and Miri Divisional Disaster Management Committee chairman Galong Luang confirmed that all five people on board had died.
“Unfortunately, all five onboard are deceased as confirmed by reports from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and Health Ministry (MoH).
“However, I am not able to provide all the names of the deceased aside from Dr. Ainul for now,” he said.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, in a separate statement, confirmed that the four passengers were MoH personnel who were on official duty.
He said the helicopter was being flown by one pilot and carrying a medical officer, a medical assistant and two nurses.
“Based on the initial information received, the flight departing from Miri was operated by one pilot and carried four MoH health personnel, namely a medical officer, a medical assistant and two nurses who were on official duty,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly said search-and-rescue teams, together with medical personnel and Bomba, had reached the crash site near the Long Lellang STOLport.
“The operation is currently underway,” he said.
He added that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation and working with security authorities, rescue teams and relevant aviation agencies to obtain accurate and up-to-date information from the scene.
The ministry was also contacting the next-of-kin and family members of those involved to provide the necessary support.
Dr Dzulkefly urged the media and public not to speculate or circulate unverified information while the recovery operation was ongoing, out of respect for the victims’ families.
“Any further developments will be announced from time to time after official confirmation is received from the authorities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Galong said approval had been granted by Bomba’s top management for its MI-17 helicopter to be deployed to retrieve the remains.
The Bomba helicopter is expected to depart from Miri for Long Lellang with representatives from the relevant government agencies on board.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala, who is also the Mulu assemblyman, will join the recovery mission.
Galong said the helicopter’s departure would depend on weather conditions and instructions from the aviation authorities and other relevant agencies overseeing the operation.
The mission will be conducted under the command of Marudi police chief Nor Aizan Mohd Jamil, who will also oversee the police investigation into the crash.
“All the remains are expected to be retrieved and sent back to Miri on the same sortie, and the aircraft is likely to land at Miri Airport instead of the helipad at Miri Hospital,” he said. – September 9, 2026