[UPDATED] 2 dead, 2 injured in helicopter crash in Taman Melawati

KUALA LUMPUR – Two helicopters crashed in Taman Melawati, Ampang, at noon today, said the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director.

Authorities said two people were killed, while another two are injured. The accident involved a woman and three men.

Ampang Jaya district police chief ACP Mohamad Farouk Eshak has confirmed the identities of the victims and will submit the full investigation paper to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia.

The two helicopters took off from Subang and were headed to Genting Sempah, he added.

Authorities believe that the two helicopters were conducting flight tests, but the pilot of one of them lost control and crashed into a small clearing.

The two bodies have been sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a post-mortem. At 6pm, police announced that the post-mortem on the victims will be done tomorrow at Hospital UKM, Cheras.

Police have identified the victims as Mohamed Sabri Baharom, 56, and Mohd Irfan Fikri Mohamed Rawi, 41.

Meanwhile, the two others – a woman and a man – in the second aircraft sustained light injuries when conducting an emergency landing at the SJK (T) Taman Melawati field. Rescue efforts are ongoing.

Police later said former Malaysian Airline System Bhd group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, who was one of the pilots, was in the helicopter that crashed in the field, with passenger Wendy Tan.

The flight tests are believed to be part of Ahmad Jauhari’s My Heli Club. The make of the helicopters are Heli Cabri 9M-HCB and Heli Cabri 9M-HCA.

In response to the crash, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said the Kuala Lumpur Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (KL ARCC) has been activated to provide all necessary rescue coordination efforts.

“Following this accident, a technical investigation based on Annex 13-Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO Annex 13) has been initiated by the Ministry of Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BSKU) today.

“Based on ICAO Annex 13, an initial investigation report will be prepared within 30 days from the date of the air accident.

“The main objective of the investigation is to determine the circumstances and cause of the accident with an aim to safeguard lives and prevent future accidents. In this regard, the investigation to be initiated is not to apportion blame nor liability.

“The investigating team will be issuing a full report of the findings, which will include recommendations for improvements toward better civil aviation safety once the entire investigation is completed. The government will use these findings as a basis to form future recommendations for holistic improvements to the country’s civil aviation industry,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who was at the scene, offered his condolences to the families of the two dead.

“It is very unfortunate that there are a few casualties. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident. I pray that the other two victims will be safe, and their families will stay strong during this time.

“The other helicopter crashed in a nearby school field. The two people in that helicopter are injured.”

When asked about the safety of the residents here, he said it is fortunate that the helicopters did not crash into any residential building as it could have involved more casualties.

Residents of a nearby condominium shared videos on the incident on social media, while some rushed to the crash site to help. – The Vibes, November 8, 2020