Ten crew members lost their lives after two Malaysian navy helicopters collided midair and crashed.
The Royal Malaysian Navy reported that the collision occurred on Tuesday morning during aerial training in northern Lumut, where the navy is headquartered.
One helicopter, an Agusta Westland AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM), crashed near the raised seating of the stadium at the complex, while the second, a Eurocopter Fennec, fell near a swimming pool.
The navy stated that there were seven crew members aboard the Agusta and three on the Eurocopter. All were confirmed dead at the crash site, which occurred around 9:30 a.m. (01:30 GMT).
An investigation board will be established by the navy to determine the cause of the incident, according to their statement.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described the incident as a “heart-wrenching tragedy” and confirmed that an investigation would be conducted.
Videos circulated on social media showed several helicopters flying above a stadium with troops in formation below. One helicopter appears to have hit the rear rotor of another before both plunged to the ground.
The helicopter crews were practicing for next week’s Navy Day celebrations, which begin on May 3.
Malaysia has witnessed several helicopter crashes over the past decade. In 2015, Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States and a former government minister were among five people killed when their helicopter crashed into the jungle in central Selangor state.
The following year, six people were killed when their helicopter crashed in the Borneo state of Sarawak, including then Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Noriah Kasnon.
In 2020, two people were killed after two helicopters clipped each other and crashed to the east of Kuala Lumpur.
