SEREMBAN: A video call lasting more than an hour with his mother was the final communication with his family for Capt Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 31, the pilot involved in a helicopter crash in Sarawak on Tuesday (Sept 8).
His father, Bee Sham Ahmad, 59, said his fourth of 12 children had a lengthy video call with his mother, Zaiton Muda, also 59, the night before the crash.
"He always called us, but the night before yesterday, he had a video call with his mother for more than an hour and a half, from 10pm until after 11pm... little did we know that it would be his last call.
"We only learned the sad news from my eighth child, who informed us that his brother was involved in the crash yesterday afternoon," he said when contacted on Wednesday (Sept 9).
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Bee Sham said the last time they met was during the recent Negri Sembilan state election, when his son took a week’s leave to return to Senawang to vote before returning to Miri to resume his duties.
He said the family was on their way to Miri for DNA testing and related identification procedures, as well as to get updates on the incident.
"We were informed that all the victims are still at the crash site as it is deep in the interior.
"We are still waiting for further information on arrangements to bring the remains home and, if permitted, we intend to bury him at the Forest Heights Senawang Muslim Cemetery," he said.
Zainol Afiq leaves behind a wife and two children, aged six years and 10 months.
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On Tuesday, a BO-105 helicopter carrying five people, including the pilot, was reported to have crashed and caught fire near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Airport (STOLport) in Ulu Baram.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed the incident and said it received notification of the crash from the Flight Information Service at 3.58pm.
The four other victims were identified as Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, assistant medical officer Alexson Adit, and two nurses, Debra Moset and Jessie Paya. – Bernama
