A tragic incident occurred in the northwestern state of Perak, Malaysia, where two Malaysian Navy helicopters collided during a training session, resulting in the loss of all 10 individuals on board. This marks the second recent accident involving government aircraft in the country.
The collision took place while the helicopters were practicing for the upcoming 90th-anniversary celebration of the Royal Malaysian Navy. The crash happened at 9:32 a.m. at the naval base in Lumut, where all crew members tragically lost their lives.
Videos capturing the midair collision and the subsequent debris falling from the sky have been shared by Malaysian news outlets, showcasing the devastating event.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his sorrow over the incident, calling it a “heart-wrenching and soul-destroying tragedy.” Malaysia’s king, Sultan Ibrahim, also conveyed his deep sadness over the loss of national heroes in this unfortunate event.
The Royal Malaysian Navy has initiated an investigation into the cause of the collision and urged the public to refrain from sharing the video out of respect for the families affected. There are discussions about potentially postponing the anniversary celebration in light of the tragedy.
In a separate incident last month, four individuals were rescued following a Malaysian coast guard helicopter crash in the Strait of Malacca.
Reporting by Tashny Sukumaran.
2024-04-23 02:29:12
Link from www.nytimes.com