KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The Health Ministry will be temporarily stopping its “flying doctor” services in Perak after yesterday’s helicopter crash, injuring and stranding several medical staff in the jungle.
Caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Perak only had one such flight service, and the affected route would be the one that carried doctors between Gua Musang and Ulu Kinta.
He added that the other “flying doctor” services nationwide are unaffected.
“We won't suspend this service for long, just a few days until we get further assurances from the helicopter charter company,” he told a news conference at the Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh today.
A video of the news conference was posted on the ministry’s Facebook account this afternoon.
Khairy said initial investigations from the police and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) showed the helicopter crashed in the Bukit Kinta Forest Reserve in Perak due to adverse weather conditions, and not because of a faulty aircraft.
“It made landing difficult as the pilot tried his best to land safely. So until we get assurances from the charter company, allow the authorities to investigate further the incident and provide counselling for the second team of doctors,” he added.
A helicopter with seven people on board crashed near the De Garden Enterprise, located in Brinchang, Cameron Highlands at about 1.15pm yesterday. There were no fatalities but three people on board were said to be seriously injured.
The helicopter was said to have been carrying medical staff and equipment to the mountain region.
Khairy said the crash survivors were all undergoing treatment at the hospital.
He thanked the authorities for their swift action.
