KUALA LUMPUR: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has activated its coordination centre to assist in the rescue operation involving the tragic Lumut helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of 10 people today.
Its chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said the Kuala Lumpur Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (KLARCC) was activated at 10.20am today.
"The KLARCC was activated at 10.20am for the coordination of rescue operations. Further investigation into the accident will be conducted by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN)," Norazman said in a statement today (April 23).
It was reported that 10 people were believed to have been killed when two Malaysian Armed Forces helicopters collided mid-air at the RMN base in Lumut this morning.
The helicopters, an Agusta Westland AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM) and a Eurocopter Fennec, collided during a mid-air manoeuvre during a flypast training for the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) 90th Anniversary celebrations.
Following the collision, the AW139 HOM helicopter crashed at the steps of the Navy Stadium while the Fennec crashed near the pool of the Navy Sports Complex.
The helicopters had earlier taken off from Padang Sitiawan at 9.03am.
