Ten individuals have lost their lives following a harrowing mid-air collision between two navy helicopters during a military drill for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade.
Local media footage captured the heart-wrenching moment when one helicopter grazed the rotor of the other, sending both hurtling towards the ground.
The devastating incident unfolded at 09:30 local time (02:30 BST) in the town of Lumut, which serves as a pivotal navy base in Malaysia.
Regrettably, there are no known survivors from the crash. The Royal Malaysian Navy confirmed the grim news, stating, “All victims were confirmed dead on site and the remains were sent to the [Lumut] Military Hospital for identification.”
They have pledged to launch a comprehensive investigation into the root cause of the tragedy.
Initial reports suggest that one of the helicopters, a HOM M503-3 carrying seven occupants, tragically crashed onto a nearby running track. Meanwhile, the other aircraft, a Fennec M502-6 with three individuals on board, plunged into a swimming pool in close proximity.
Authorities swiftly responded to the distress call, with the state’s fire and rescue department being alerted at 09:50 local time (01:50 GMT) to the catastrophic incident.
This mournful event follows a previous aviation mishap in March, when a Malaysian coast guard helicopter encountered trouble during a training flight off Angsa Island. Fortunately, fishermen were able to locate and rescue the pilot, co-pilot, and two passengers from the wreckage.
Chioma Kalu
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