Video of the incident circulating on social media shows several helicopters flying in formation before one among the planes hit the opposite with its rotor and each fell to the bottom. Local police confirmed that the recording was authentic.
Both planes took off from the Sitiawan field at 9:03 a.m. and were preparing to fly over the flyover to mark the ninetieth anniversary of the navy next month.
Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said one among the helicopters crashed in a swimming pool and the opposite in a stadium on the military compound.
“I’m going straight to Lumut to thoroughly check the situation on the bottom,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday, confirming that an investigation can be launched.
Efforts are ongoing to confirm the identities of the killed crew members, all of whom were under the age of 40, Mohamed Khaled told reporters. He added that each helicopters were on their third test flight when the collision occurred.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the overflight attempt took place as a part of the Malaysian Navy’s Fleet Open Day, scheduled for May on the Lumut base.
The Navy said seven crew members were on board the AW139 naval operations helicopter, manufactured by AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defense contractor Leonardo. Three other crew members were on a Fennec light helicopter manufactured by European multinational defense conglomerate Airbus.
The nation is mourning the heartbreaking and soul-wrenching tragedy of the 2 helicopter crashes
On Tuesday, Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims on Facebook.
He said he and the Queen, his wife Raja Zarith Sofiah, “were deeply saddened by the lack of national heroes on this tragedy.”
“Condolences to those who have left us forever. May they be placed among the believers and also among the martyrs,” Sultan Ibrahim said.
“I also want the Malaysian Armed Forces to conduct a thorough investigation to obtain full information on this incident.”
“The nation mourns the heart- and soul-breaking tragedy of the two helicopter crashes,” Anwar said.
“May the souls of all the departed be showered with mercy and placed among the believers and the righteous.”
