PUTRAJAYA, July 22 — Seven people, including the pilot of a Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) helicopter, were reported safe after the craft crashed at the UniKL MIAT Hangar apron near Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, at 11.52am today.
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia chief executive officer Norazman Mahmud said the Leonardo S.p.A AW189 helicopter with the registration number 9M-BOF was undertaking a flight test with three JBPM staffers and four flight engineers when the crash occurred.
“The Airport Fire and Rescue Service responded immediately after the Subang air control tower received a report of the incident.
“There were seven people on board, including the pilot, and all are reported to be in stable condition,” he said in a statement today, adding that further investigation will be conducted by the Transport Ministry’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau in accordance with Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016.
Initial reports indicated the helicopter was trying to land when it crashed.
JBPM fire and rescue operation division director Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman said the helicopter was conducting a maintenance flight, not a normal one.
“The helicopter has been in operation for a long time and was undergoing maintenance, including ascent and descent processes.
“Maybe it hit the ground hard while landing. It (didn’t crash) from high above; it would have disintegrated if it had… I was informed the helicopter rotors are broken,” he said when contacted by Bernama, adding that the seven victims were sent to Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang for treatment.
— Bernama
