KUALA LUMPUR: On April 23, two Malaysian Armed Forces helicopters crashed following a mid-air collision during a flypast training for the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) 90th Anniversary celebrations.
The helicopters were undergoing formation training in conjunction with Navy Day scheduled to take place from May 3-5.
The helicopters involved were an Agusta Westland AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM) and a Eurocopter Fennec. The Agusta Westland crashed at the steps of the Navy Stadium while the Fennec crashed near the pool of the Navy Sports Complex.
There were no survivors in the tragedy. A total of 10 personnel, comprising 7 RMN HOM crew members and 3 RMN Fennec crew members were confirmed deceased at the scene and were sent to the Lumut RMN base military hospital for identification processes.
Two squadron leaders were among the 10 who died. The victims, of various ranks, were based in Lumut and Kota Kinabalu.
The ten personnel were:-
Flight M503-3 HOM:
1. Commander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli (RMN Squadron Commanding Officer 503).
2. Lieutenant Commander Wan Rezaudeen Kamal Wan Zainal Abidin (RMN).
3. Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Amirulfaris Mohamad Marzukhi (RMN).
4. Warrant Officer II TLR (AQM) Muhammad Faisol Tamadun.
5. Warrant Officer II TNL Noorfarahimi Mohd Saedy (Passenger).
6. Petty Officer TNL Noor Rahiza Anuar (Passenger).
7. Able Seaman I JJM Joanna Felicia Rohna (Passenger).
Flight M502-6:
1. Commander Muhamad Amir Mohamad (RMN Squadron Commanding Officer 502).
2. Lieutenant T. Sivasutan (RMN).
3. Warrant Officer II TMK Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Termizi.
All 10 bodies of the victims underwent autopsy procedures at the Forensic Department of Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh.
The last of the ten airmen was laid to rest on April 25, with the final body being that of the late Lieutenant T Sivasutan.
On the same day, following completion of the burial ceremonies, the Navy stopped flying the flag at half-mast.
On May 9, in a preliminary report, the Navy said the aircraft were found to be airworthy. The Navy also said the crew involved were also fit to fly.