MMEA: Downed chopper made emergency landing during an exercise

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) helicopter made an emergency water landing while conducting rescue exercises near Pulau Angsa, off Kuala Selangor.

MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin said the incident occurred at 9.55am on Tuesday (March 5).

"The initial distress call was made to MERS 999 by a fisherman in the vicinity of the incident," he said in a statement.

He said a search and rescue operation was activated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at 10.15am.

All four on board were safe, he added.

"The aircraft was piloted by Lt Kmdr (M) Tengku Mohd Nizam Tengku Zakaria and Lt Kmdr (M) Mohamad Azrol Saidi," he said.

The two other personnel on board were warrant officer John Ibno and rescue diver Muhamad Nurhayyat Hashim.

Adm Hamid said a helicopter and two boats were deployed to the scene.

"Nearby fishermen gave first aid to the crew who were then airlifted to the Subang Maritime Air Station.

"Ten personnel from the MMEA special task and rescue team and the KM Bagan Datuk patrol vessel have been deployed to secure the location," he said, adding that the cause of the incident was under investigation.

He said the crew of the helicopter did not require medical treatment.