THE helicopter involved in the fatal Flying Doctor Service crash in Sarawak was certified as airworthy until August 4, 2027, according to records from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said the aircraft’s Certificate of Registration was also valid until July 28, 2029.
“Based on our records, the aircraft’s Certificate of Airworthiness was valid until Aug 4, 2027, while its Certificate of Registration was valid until July 28, 2029,” he told reporters when met at the Malaysia Aviation Safety Seminar 2026 (MASS ’26) in Kuala Lumpur today.
Norazman said Layang Layang Aerospace had immediately grounded its fleet of BO105 helicopters following the accident as a precautionary measure.
The operator has also grounded other aircraft in its fleet fitted with Rolls-Royce 250 series engines.
He stressed that the grounding was initiated by the operator as a precaution and should not be interpreted as an indication of the cause of the crash.
“I wish to stress that this grounding is a precautionary safety measure taken by the operator.
“It should not be interpreted as an indication that the engine or any other particular component caused the accident,” he said.
Norazman also dismissed concerns that the age of the helicopter alone could determine its airworthiness.
“From an airworthiness perspective, age alone is not a determining factor, provided the aircraft is properly maintained in accordance with its approved maintenance programme and continues to meet all applicable airworthiness requirements,” he said.
He said CAAM was monitoring Layang Layang Aerospace’s grounding and inspection programme.
The authority is also verifying all relevant regulatory records involving the aircraft, operator and pilot. - September 10, 2026
