PETALING JAYA: People tried in vain to dissuade doctors from embarking on the helicopter that crashed near Long Lellang in Sarawak, according to a social media user.
A woman with the Facebook handle Helena YG posted about the final moments of the group of medical personnel before they set off on their journey.
"(Long Siut) was their final stop where they rested (at my father’s sundry shop)... before heading to Long Lellang.
"They enjoyed tinned coconut drinks while waiting for the pilot to refuel the helicopter.
"One of them had a chat with my mother," she wrote.
ALSO READ: Five killed in FDS copter crash
Helena also shared that her mother tried to persuade the team not to fly due to the hazy weather.
She said one of the doctors told her mother that the haze was quite bad.
"To that, my mother asked them why they still wanted to continue with their journey instead of going on another day.
"The doctor then replied that they had already promised the people (at their destination."
She added that she respected the medical personnel greatly for their sacrifice.
Five people were killed when the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport (short take-off and landing airport) in the Marudi district in northern Sarawak.
The pilot, a medical officer, an assistant medical officer and two nurses were all killed.
Initial information from Miri Airport Fire and Rescue Services indicated that the helicopter, which took off from Miri, crashed near the end of the airstrip at Long Lellang.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed the incident, saying that a BO-105 helicopter with registration number 9M-LLF crashed near the STOLport.
CAAM received notification of the crash at 3.58pm.
