[UPDATED] Missing chopper pilot found alive near Bidor by rescuers: Wee

KUALA LUMPUR – The missing helicopter pilot has been found alive by search and rescue (SAR) teams near Bidor at 8.20am today.

According to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, the rescuers are working on recovery and moving the pilot safely to a hospital in Ipoh to be treated.

In a brief Facebook post, the minister said he was informed of the development by the Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM), and thanked the rescue teams deployed by the air force, police, and fire and rescue department.

The SAR operation resumed at 8am today to continue the search for the lone pilot who lost contact with the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre yesterday.

Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri had said an operations room was activated at the Bidor police station, with a total strength of 11 officers and 68 personnel consisting of police, including its air units and General Operations Force, Fire and Rescue Department as well as the Forestry Department.

“A helicopter was dispatched at 4pm to organise a search mission in the lower Perak border area.

“We received information from people hearing an explosion at Jeram Mengkuang, and some said a helicopter was flying low in the Kg Kenangan area.”

Much of the SAR efforts were concentrated in the Chikus Forest Reserve, and areas with the information provided by the public.

The victim’s identity had yet to be ascertained but based on information from the CAAM, only one pilot was involved and there were no passengers.

It is understood that the pilot is a foreigner and that the helicopter is owned by an individual with the title of Datuk.

Yesterday, Wee, at a press conference, said that the Eurocopter aircraft, privately owned, lost contact at approximately 12.16pm and the aircraft’s last known location was a forest area near Bidor.

The helicopter was scheduled to land at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here at 12.37pm after departing from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, at 11.37am.

The CAAM, meanwhile, said the helicopter, an Eurocopter EC120B model, also known as “Hummingbird”, had recorded a sharp loss of altitude.

“The on-duty air traffic control officer tried to make contact with the pilot. However, there was no distress call made.

“Review from the radar readings indicated a large loss of altitude in less than one minute,” CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Chester Voo said in a statement yesterday.

The chopper, with the registration marking N409HH, was operated by Heli Outpost Sdn Bhd. – The Vibes, September 12, 2022