A helicopter from Malaysia's Ministry of Health Flying Doctor Service crashed near an airport in a rural area of Sarawak state. Initial reports confirm all five onboard died, including one pilot and four health officials, while traveling from Miri city.
The Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crashed at the end of a short runway airport in Long Lelalang village, Baram district, Sarawak, Malaysia, at approximately 15:40 on Tuesday, 8 Sep 2020 GMT+7.
Galong Luang, chairman of the Miri Disaster Management Committee, stated that rescue and related agencies confirmed all five aboard the helicopter—one pilot and four passengers—were deceased.
The helicopter, a BO-105 model with registration number 9M-LLF, operated by Layang-Layang Aerospace company, departed from Miri Airport heading to Long Lelalang before crashing near the runway's end.
Malaysia's Health Minister Zulkifli Ahmad confirmed the four passengers were Ministry of Health personnel on duty: one doctor, one medical assistant, and two nurses, with a single pilot controlling the helicopter.
Initially, during the early search and rescue phase, authorities had not confirmed the fate of those onboard. Search teams, health officials, and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department arrived near Long Lelalang Airport and promptly began investigations.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) reported receiving notification from the flight information service at 15:58. The helicopter was performing Flying Doctor Service duties with five people onboard.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under Malaysia's Ministry of Transport will conduct the inquiry according to the Malaysian Civil Aviation Regulations of 2016.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health is coordinating closely with security agencies, rescue teams, and relevant aviation authorities to gather accurate and current information from the crash site. They are also contacting the families of the deceased to provide necessary support and assistance.
The Health Minister requested media and the public to avoid speculation or spreading unverified information out of respect for the families of the victims. Official updates will be announced once confirmed by the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department has been authorized to deploy an MI-17 helicopter to transport the bodies from the crash site. The aircraft will fly from Miri to Long Lelalang with representatives from related government agencies.
This operation is under the command of the Deputy Superintendent of Marudi Police District, who will oversee both the recovery of the bodies and the accident investigation. It is expected all bodies will be returned to Miri city on the same flight, potentially landing at Miri Airport instead of the Miri Hospital helicopter pad.
The Flying Doctor Service plays a vital role in providing medical care to remote communities with difficult access, especially in Sarawak's rural areas. The service has been operating in the state since 1973.
This incident is a tragic loss of medical personnel serving remote populations. Malaysian authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the accident's cause.