10 people dead in Malaysia as two navy helicopters collide in mid-air | Global News

In a tragic incident, two Malaysian military helicopters collided and crashed during a training session on Tuesday, resulting in the death of all 10 crew members on board. The country’s rescue agency confirmed the devastating news, stating that the victims were all confirmed dead at the scene and taken to the Lumut army base hospital for identification.

According to Suhaimy Mohamad Suhail, senior operations commander from the fire and rescue department, the collision occurred during flight training, leading to the fatal outcome. Footage shared online depicted the helicopters flying low in a formation over the Lumut naval stadium in a flypast rehearsal ahead of the navy fleet’s open day celebrations in May. One of the helicopters was seen clipping the rear rotor of another, causing both to spiral out of control and crash.

The two helicopters involved in the tragic accident were identified as a Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec and an AgustaWestland AW139. Photos from the scene showed the mangled wreckage of the Eurocopter model on the naval base stadium track, surrounded by rescue personnel and debris. The AgustaWestland helicopter crashed in the naval base’s swimming pool area.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, promising an immediate investigation by the Ministry of Defense to determine the cause of the crash. Incidents involving helicopters are not uncommon in Malaysia, with previous crashes reported in the past. The nation mourns the loss of the 10 brave crew members who tragically lost their lives in this devastating accident.