[UPDATED] Missing chopper pilot dies during rescue attempt: police

KUALA LUMPUR – The helicopter pilot, identified as Hong Kong-born Capt Richard Chan, who was found earlier has died during the mission to rescue him.

Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said in a press conference at the Bidor police station that 58-year-old Chan lost consciousness during the rescue mission.

Chan’s body was transported by helicopter to the grounds of SMK Anderson and taken to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh for a post-mortem.

Yusri told The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran that the pilot’s death was confirmed by a medical officer at the hospital.

He added that the body was found in the helicopter’s cockpit by members of the rescue team this morning.

“A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) helicopter found the location of the crash at about 9.30am in the Chikus Forest Reserve area. Five minutes later, the RMAF crew went down to the location and found the victim in the cockpit.

“The body was brought out from the crash site at 10.12am and brought to SMK Anderson in an ambulance and then sent to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh, for post-mortem,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama at the SAR operations room in the Bidor police station, about 80km from Ipoh.

He identified the pilot as Hong Kong citizen Richard Chan Tsz Kin, 58, whose family members had been informed of the incident.

Yusri said the wreckage had been handed over to the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority (CAAM) for further action.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, in his latest Facebook post, said the ministry was waiting for the hospital report to confirm the cause and time of the victim’s death, and had instructed CAAM to prepare a report on the incident.

CAAM, in a statement, said an investigation into the incident will be carried out by the Transport Ministry’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau, in accordance with Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016.

“CAAM would like to express its condolences to the families of the victim. CAAM would also like to express its highest appreciation to all members of the SAR team.”

Earlier, Wee had revealed that rescue teams found the pilot near Bidor at 8.20am.

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

The rescue 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.

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

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.

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