During a rehearsal for a parade, two Malaysian navy helicopters collided in mid-air at the Lumut naval base in Perak, resulting in the deaths of all 10 crew members, the navy announced.
The crash occurred at 9:32 AM local time on Tuesday.
The authorities confirmed that the casualties were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies were transported to the naval base’s military hospital for identification.
“All victims were confirmed dead on site and the remains were sent to the [Lumut] Military Hospital for identification,” the statement read.
The helicopters involved were a Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec with three crew members and an AW139 maritime operation helicopter carrying seven people.
Meanwhile, the incident is under investigation. According to local reports, the AW139 crashed into a sports complex and the Fennec into a swimming pool at the base.
Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin noted that the helicopters were preparing for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 90th-anniversary parade scheduled for Saturday.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences, highlighting the tragedy’s impact on the nation and mentioning that the Ministry of Defense would promptly investigate the cause of the accident.
Helicopter incidents have occurred previously in Malaysia, including a non-fatal Coast Guard helicopter crash last month and a fatal crash in 2016 involving a deputy minister.
In a separate accident, two pilots tragically lost their lives in the crash of a training helicopter belonging to the Philippine Navy.
The helicopter crash occurred in a grassy area near a public market south of the capital Manila, according to statements from the army and police.
The American news network ABC News reported that authorities have not announced any injuries on the ground resulting from the crash.
Helicopter accidents, while relatively rare, can occur due to various factors such as mechanical failures, adverse weather conditions, or pilot error.
