KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — Two helicopters flying four passengers collided and crashed in Melawati today, the Fire and Rescue Department confirmed.
In a statement today, the department's operations centre head Zulfikar Jaffar said that one female and three male victims were involved in the crash, with two confirmed dead at press time 1.20pm.
Authorities have yet to establish the identities of the two deceased at this point.
“We can only confirm two people died from the crash. This was confirmed by St John’s Ambulance of Malaysia at the scene,” Zulfikar told the media in a brief text message.
Videos of one the helicopter crashing had made its way via social media platforms this afternoon.
When contacted, Ampang police chief ACP Mohamad Farouk Esha said he was on the way to the scene and will furnish the media with more details soon.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is the Gombak MP, had also rushed to the scene upon being informed of the incident.
Azmin reportedly said he hoped the authorities would investigate the crash exhaustively.
The police confirmed later that the two helicopters had collided mid-flight, causing one to crash and forcing the other into an emergency landing at a nearby field.
Investigators also disclosed later that one of the two survivors were former Malaysia Airlines Bhd group chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong confirmed that the Air Accident Investigation Bureau has begun investigating the crash.
Mohamad Farouk said the helicopter’s wreckage was being dismantled so that it could be transported to an investigation facility.
The two people killed were taken to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre for autopsies.
