Picture of woman not helicopter co-pilot

A mixed-up: The photo of Dzuriasikim (left) and Fournier led to many wrongly assuming that she was the co-pilot of the ill-fated helicopter.

PETALING JAYA: When air charter firm executive Dzuriasikim Dzulkefli posted a photo of herself with the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Semenyih on Facebook, she never imagined being mistaken for the ill-fated aircraft’s co-pilot.

She had posted the picture of her beside her friend Capt Clifford Fournier, to mark her grief over his death. The photo subsequently went viral online.

It also led to many people wrongly assuming that she was Aidana Baizieva, purportedly the helicopter’s co-pilot. It has since been clarified that Baizieva was an employee of Cempaka Aviation and was also on board the helicopter.

Several vernacular newspapers used the photo along with those of others who died in the helicopter crash without confirming her identity.

“Cliff had been photographed with many of his friends inclu­ding myself. I don’t understand why people would assume I was the co-pilot,” said Dzuriasikim, 46.

She has been flooded with Facebook and WhatsApp messages asking about her identity.

Dzuriasikim told reporters that she was assistant vice-president of sales and marketing at Eagle Air Charter.

“Fournier was a well-known colleague in the aviation industry who had flown many Malaysian VVIPs,” she added.

For IGB Corporation Berhad group managing director, Datuk Seri Robert Tan Chung Meng, his phone had been ringing off the hook ever since he was mistakenly believed to be a victim of the crash.

The mistake arose when initial information on the incident said the helicopter was owned by IGB Corp and a Datuk Robert Tan was among the six who perished.

Reporters who called the family and friends later realised that it wasn’t the IGB boss on board.

Contacted yesterday, Tan, 63, replied that he was fine but declined further comments.

Friends who called up newspaper offices to set the record straight said the man had been swamped by calls.

A spokesman for IGP Corp offered the tycoon’s condolences in a statement yesterday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the crew and passengers who tragically lost their lives yesterday (Saturday).”

The statement added that the aircraft was owned by Orion Corridor Sdn Bhd, of which IGB Corp Bhd is a shareholder.

The aircraft was managed and operated by Cempaka Aviation.

Former MCA vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai, who is Tan’s friend, told Bernama that Tan was in Australia on Saturday.

The deceased was later verified to be SP Baiduri Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Tan Huat Seang, 59.