SHAH ALAM: Two RMN helicopters – a Fennec and an AW139 – crashed following a mid-air collision during a training flight at the Lumut airbase this morning. Pictures of the crash helicopter revealed that the two helicopters are M502-06 (Eurocopter Fennec) and M503-3, the Leonardo AW139, with the RMN designation of Maritime Operations Helicopter (MOH).
The two helicopters and four others were flying in formation as part of the air display/fly-past for the 90th RMN anniversary to be held at the Lumut naval base this Saturday. The formation had taken off from the Sitiawan airfield at 9.03am.
RMN in a press release confirmed the incident which it said occurred at 9.32am. It said all personnel on board the two helicopters – 7 in the AW139 and three in the Fennec – were killed in the incident. Those who died are identified as:
TLDM mengesahkan 10 orang iaitu masing-masing 7 kru HOM TLDM dan 3 kru Fennec TLDM telah terkorban dan nama-nama mereka adalah seperti berikut:
a. Pesawat HOM (M503-3) – 4 orang kru dan 3 penumpang:
(1) Komander Muhammad Firdaus bin Ramli TLDM – Pegawai Memerintah Skuadron 503.
(2) Leftenan Komander Wan Rezaudeen Kamal bin Wan Zainal Abidin TLDM.
(3) Leftenan Komander Mohammad Amirulfaris bin Mohamad Marzukhi TLDM.
(4) Pegawai Waran II TLR (AQM) Muhammad Faisol bin Tamadun.
(5) Pegawai Waran II TNL Noorfarahimi binti Mohd Saedy (Penumpang).
(6) Bintara Muda TNL Noor Rahiza binti Anuar (Penumpang).
(7) Laskar Kelas I JJM Joanna Felicia anak Rohna (Penumpang).
b. Pesawat Fennec (M502-6) – 3 orang kru:
(1) Komander Muhamad Amir bin Mohamad TLDM – Pegawai Memerintah Skuadron 502.
(2) Leftenan Sivasutan a/l Thanjappan TLDM.
(3) Pegawai Waran II TMK Mohd Shahrizan bin Mohd Termizi.
This is the biggest loss of life for the RMN in a single incident in recent memory. A board of inquiry has been set up to investigate the incident which killed the commanding officers of both the 502 and 503 squadrons. Both officers were on board, separately, in the two helicopters of their command.
Defence Minister DS Khaled Nordin announced in Lumut this afternoon that all events – including Open Days – planned this weekend to celebrate the RMN 90th anniversary this Saturday, has been cancelled. The parade at Lumut naval base which the two helicopters were training for was also cancelled.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (36)
Sadly this is the 2nd AW139 crash in Malaysia this year.
From the videos, it looks like the AW139 MOH did not keep track of the AS555 Fennec that is slightly in front and above them, and turning tighter than them, causing the mid-air collision.
Condolences to all that involved in the accident.
Latest information
Helicopter involved :
1) AS555 Fennec M502-6
3 crews including the 502 Squadron commander
2) AW139 MOH M503-3
7 crews including the 503 Squadron commander
There are no survivors.
yes it was the M502-06
Oh no! Is the 139 one of the leased MOH?
No, the MOH were bought outright, not leased.
Innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun
Al Fatihah
waste of assets and lives just for air display ..
Wait a minute..If Im not mistaken M502-03 (Fennec) is the aicraft that crash-landed in 2021 right? Is that meant that aircraft already repaired and participated in this raptai?
No, it was 06. My mistake.
Salute.
R.I.P.
Official TLDM manifest of the crews of the 2 helicopters
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GL1eEU3aAAAREWY.jpg
Again condolences to all that perished, their families, and TLDM for this difficult moment. Hopefully there will be lessons learnt out of this tragedy, so that their sacrifices will not be in vain.
rip
people dying needlessly for a vanity show really get into my nerve.
My heartfelt condolences to all the families and the armed forces. May their souls rest in peace. It is likely an investigation will be conducted soon.