KUCHING: The bodies of all five victims on board the Flying Doctor Service helicopter which crashed in Long Lellang have been recovered, says Sarawak police commissioner Comm Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah.
He said the remains were all found in the burnt wreckage during search and recovery (SAR) operations on Wednesday (Sept 9).
"The victims were identified based on their personal belongings.
"However, formal identification will be done through DNA testing," he said in a statement.
The victims were identified as pilot Capt Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30, Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33, medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31, and staff nurses Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44.
Comm Zainal said the remains will be flown to Miri Hospital for post-mortems and DNA tests.
He said investigations at the site were conducted by a forensics team from Sarawak police headquarters and the Fire and Rescue Department Miri zone's Special Tactical Operation And Rescue Team (STORM).
Altogether 67 personnel members from various agencies were involved in the operations at the site.
Comm Zainal said the helicopter took off from Miri at 10.21am on Tuesday (Sept 8) and landed at Ba Lai at 11.39am on a Flying Doctor Service operation.
It then took off for Long Siut at 1.41pm and arrived at 1.50pm to refuel.
At about 3.21pm, the helicopter was believed to have suffered an accident while approaching the Long Lellang STOLport before crashing at the end of the airstrip.
"The FDS personnel were meant to stay overnight at Long Lellang before flying to Tanjong Durian on Wednesday to continue their duties," Comm Zainal said.
He said the German-made BO-105 S helicopter was built in 1991 and had been used to transport Health Ministry personnel in Sarawak since 2009.
"Throughout this period, the helicopter carried out operations to support healthcare needs in Sarawak, particularly in Miri, Bintulu, Limbang, Marudi and Bario," he said.
