23-4-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Tragedy struck today in Lumut, Perak, as the Perak fire and rescue department confirmed the deaths of ten individuals following a collision and subsequent crash involving two Royal Malaysian Navy helicopters.
In an official statement, the department disclosed that medical officers pronounced the victims dead at the scene of the incident.
The emergency call reporting the helicopter collision was received at 9:50 am, prompting swift responses from nearby fire and rescue stations to the Lumut Royal Malaysian Navy stadium in Manjung, Perak.
????( more video ) ????????????????????Another video captures the moment when two military helicopters collided into each other in midair in Lumut, Malaysia. Ten victims were confirmed dead at the scene.
pic.twitter.com/qCosRtlSPI— SHORT NEWS (@BuonJose11019) April 23, 2024
Efforts are currently underway to recover the bodies of the victims from the wreckage of the helicopters.
A 21-second video capturing the harrowing event has circulated widely on social media platforms, depicting one helicopter colliding with the tail of another mid-air, followed by both aircraft plummeting to the ground. Debris from the helicopters can be seen scattering through the air and landing near an open field where naval personnel were gathered.
The helicopters were reportedly engaged in rehearsals for the Navy’s upcoming 90th-anniversary celebrations.
In an official statement, the Royal Malaysian Navy confirmed the involvement of two helicopter models: the HOM (M503-3) and the Fennec (M502-6). The collision occurred at 9:32 am, with a total of ten individuals on board—seven in the HOM (M503-3) helicopter and three in the Fennec (M502-6).
“All the victims were confirmed dead at the scene and were subsequently transported to the Lumut Royal Malaysian Navy Base military hospital for identification purposes,” the navy stated.
An investigation board will be convened by the navy to ascertain the cause of the tragic incident.
