JOHOR BARU: The wreckage of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) helicopter that crashed in Sungai Pulai, Gelang Patah last week is expected to be retrieved soon, possibly by Monday or Tuesday (July 14 or 15).
Commander of the Air Operations Force (PGU) under the Internal Security and Public Order Department, Deputy Comm Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani, said the retrieval operation would be carried out with assistance from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
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"InsyaAllah, with assistance from external agencies in the retrieval process, the Air Accident Investigation Bureau will be able to carry out further investigations into what happened that day,” he said when met by reporters after visiting the victims at Hospital Sultanah Aminah here on Sunday (July 13).
He added that the communication recording device is also believed to still be inside the wreckage.
"It is believed to still be in the helicopter. It records communication between the helicopter and the ground team. Technically, it’s not a black box, it's referred to as a helicopter communication device,” he said.
Meanwhile, the hospital's deputy director II Dr C. Mitesh said all five victims of the crash, including two in the intensive care unit (ICU), were in stable condition.
He said Konstabel RG Devendran remained sedated and required respiratory assistance, while Koperal Adeline Liu Yan Siu was under observation in the ICU.
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"The three other victims, who are in stable condition in the general ward, are also under observation, including by an orthopaedic specialist, as some sustained injuries that require further care. Based on current assessments, all five victims are stable,” he said.
In the 10.15am incident on Thursday (July 10), an AS355N helicopter belonging to the PDRM was involved in an accident during a flypast demonstration as part of the Mitsatom 2025 exercise, which involved Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
The other individuals involved were helicopter pilot Asst comm Faizul Mohammad, co-pilot Supt Ahmad Bustamin Baharom, and Sarjan Siti Latipa Khairuddin from the Tanjung Kupang police station.
All five crew members were successfully rescued by the Marine Police. – Bernama
