A UKRAINIAN-registered helicopter exploded and caught fire while undergoing an engine operation test at a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang at about 12.28pm today, injuring one crew member and leaving the aircraft completely destroyed.
The four Ukrainian nationals involved were understood to comprise a pilot, co-pilot and two crew members, with the injured man reportedly outside the helicopter when the explosion occurred.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director Ashrul Riezal Asbar said the injured crew member was struck by debris from the explosion.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident occurred while the helicopter’s engine was being tested following maintenance work, he said.
"We received an emergency call regarding the incident at 12.30pm.
"Upon receiving the call, five personnel and a fire engine from the Bukit Jelutong Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched to the scene, which is about three kilometres from the station," he said in a statement today.
Ashrul Riezal said the team arrived at 12.34pm, after which the operations commander reported that the helicopter had been completely destroyed by fire following the explosion.
Initial firefighting operations were carried out by the Airport Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS), assisted by personnel stationed at the facility at Subang Airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) separately confirmed that the aircraft was a Kamov Ka-32S helicopter bearing Ukrainian registration UR-CIT.
CAAM said the incident occurred at 12.28pm while the helicopter was undergoing ground engine operation testing as part of maintenance activities.
Following the incident, the airport runway was temporarily closed and all arriving and departing flights were suspended.
The runway subsequently reopened at 2.57pm, with eight incoming flights diverted to other airports and three departing flights held during the disruption.
The incident is being investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry.
CAAM had earlier advised passengers affected by the temporary closure to contact their respective airlines for the latest information on their flights. - August 15, 2026
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