Final report on Navy helicopter collision out next week

SUNGAI BULOH: The final report on the helicopter collision involving two Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) helicopters in Lumut, Perak, is expected to be released next week, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (pic).

“The latest should be next week. We are finalising the details,” the Defence Minister said after attending a ceremony to hand out Malaysian Skills Diploma and transitional training programme certificates to both active and retired servicemen here yesterday.

On April 23, 10 personnel were killed when two naval helicopters crashed in Lumut while conducting a third rehearsal for a flypast in conjunction with the 90th Naval Day.

The two helicopters involved were a Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec and an Agusta-Westland AW-139.

The Fennec helicopter crashed into the swimming pool in the sports complex, while the Agusta crashed at the TLDM stadium in Lumut.

Preliminary investigations found that the naval helicopters were airworthy during the incident.

The Navy had said the preliminary report showed that all crewmen were in good health to handle the aircraft and were capable of doing so based on their qualifications.