On April 23, 2024, at 09:50 local time in Lumut, Malaysia, a tragic accident occurred when two Malaysian navy helicopters collided mid-air during a rehearsal for a military parade. This resulted in the death of all 10 crew members on board. The helicopters crashed into the ground after one of them clipped the rotor of the other, as shown in footage published by local media.
Both helicopters, a HOM M503-3 and a Fennec M502-6, were involved in the accident. The HOM M503-3, carrying seven crew members, crashed onto a running track, while the Fennec M502-6, with three crew members, crashed into a nearby swimming pool. Rescue personnel were on site to remove debris from the wreckage.
The Royal Malaysian Navy confirmed that all victims were deceased at the scene and their remains were sent to the Lumut Military Hospital for identification. The Navy also stated that a committee would be formed to investigate the cause of the incident. The Perak Fire and Rescue Department responded to the incident after being alerted at 10:15 local time.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and offered prayers for strength to cope with the tragedy. This unfortunate event comes after a recent helicopter crash involving the Malaysian coast guard in March where all passengers were rescued by fishermen after crashing into sea near Angsa Island during training flight.
The investigation committee will look into various aspects of this accident such as human error or technical failure which led to this tragic outcome. It is important for us as society to reflect on such events and ensure safety measures are taken to prevent accidents like this from happening again in future.
Families affected by this tragedy have been informed about what happened and have been given emotional support by government officials and rescue personnel on site.
It is important that we remember those who lost their lives in this tragic event and offer our prayers for their families who are grieving for their loved ones.
