KUALA LUMPUR: The nation, on Tuesday, mourned the loss of the 10 crew members on board the two helicopters that crashed at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Lumut, Perak.
This is the deadliest helicopter crash in the country since the 2016 Sebuyau helicopter mishap, which took place during the campaigning period of the 11th Sarawak election, that killed six people, including the then deputy plantation industries and commodities minister Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon and former Kuala Kangsar member of parliament Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad.
At 9:32 am yesterday, the RMN confirmed the deaths of 10 personnel, comprising seven crew members of an AgustaWestland AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM) with the tail number M503-3 and three crew members of a Eurocopter AS555 Fennec with
the tail number M502-6.
The crew members, dubbed "national heroes" by the government, were identified as Squadron 502 commanding officer Commander Muhamad Amir Mohamad, Lieutenant Sivasutan Thanjappan and Warrant Officer II TMK Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Termizi from Squadron 502.
The others included Squadron 503 commanding officer Commander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli, Lieutenant Commander Wan Rezaudeen Kamal Zainal Abidin, Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Amirulfaris Mohd Marzukhi and Warrant Officer II Muhammad Faisol Tamadun from Squadron 503.
Able Seaman I Joanna Felicia Rohna from the RMN Air Base, Warrant Officer II Norfarahimi Mohd Saedy from West Armada Supply Depot, and Petty Officer Nor Rahiza Anuar, also from West Armada Supply Depot, were also killed during the accident.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the AW139 crashed on the RMN Lumut Stadium field, while the Fennec aircraft crashed into the Navy Sports Complex swimming pool.
The authorities immediately notified the victims' next of kin.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the two helicopters were taking part in a training session for the RMN's 90th anniversary.
The incident brought forth an outpour of condolences from people of all walks of life.
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, expressed his grief and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
He ordered the armed forces to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.
Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah consented to the cancellation of the RMN's 90th anniversary.
Instead, a Yasin recital, "tahlil", and "doa selamat" will be held at the An-Nur Mosque at the RMN base in Lumut, with Sultan Sharafuddin expected to attend.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mourned the tragedy, expressing solidarity with the victims' families and pledging a thorough investigation into the incident.
Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, as well as several ministers and menteris besar, joined the public to convey their condolences to the families of the crew members who perished in the incident.
"The cabinet today would like to express our condolences to the families of the officers and members over the incident where the two helicopters crashed at the RMN base in Lumut on April 23.
"The government would like to express its sympathy for the loss of 10 national heroes, who dedicated their service until the end of their lives," Khaled said in a statement today.
