Govt not suspending service of Fennec, HOM copters, says Defence Minister

KUALA TERENGGANU: The government has no plans to temporarily suspend the service of Fennec and HOM helicopters, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

"So far, it's not in that direction (temporary suspension)," the Defence Minister told reporters after completing the handover of "Rumah Kasih Ihsan" at Kampung Dusun Tembakau in Manir, near here, Saturday (April 27).

Mohamed Khaled said this when asked if there was a need to suspend the services of both types of helicopters following the crash on Tuesday (April 23) morning involving a Maritime Operations helicopter (HOM-AW139) and a Fennec helicopter (M502-6) at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Lumut, Perak, which killed 10 Navy officers and personnel including three women.

All the remains of the crew who died in the crash had been laid to rest with the last victim, Lieutenant T. Sivasutan, 31, cremated at the Manjung Hindu Sabha Sanathana Dharma Ashram Crematorium Centre in Sitiawan at 12.15pm on Thursday (April 25).

In the meantime, Mohamed Khaled confirmed that the wreckage of the two aircraft, including the black box, had already been removed from the scene of the incident, on Thursday.

"I was informed that everything has been moved to the place where the investigation is being carried out," he said.

Mohamed Khaled said the investigation into the incident conducted by an Investigation Board established by the Navy will also involve the Royal Malaysian Air Force and other experts including the helicopter manufacturers.

In addition, he also did not rule out the possibility that the investigation would involve external experts. - Bernama