During a rehearsal of the Royal Malaysian Navy parade in Lumut, a tragic incident occurred when two helicopters collided mid-air, resulting in the loss of 10 lives. A verified video captured the moment of collision, showing one helicopter’s front end colliding with the rear rotor of the other, causing both helicopters to plummet to the ground.
The video also captured the distressing cries of “Allah, Allah, Allah” from witnesses. The Royal Malaysian Navy, also known as TDLM, released a statement regarding the incident. It confirmed that the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) from the RMN FENNEC fleet crashed at the RMN’s Lumut base at 9:32 am.
The statement revealed that a total of 10 personnel were involved in the incident, including 7 crew members from the RMN HOM team and 3 from the FENNEC team. Fortunately, all individuals were rescued at the scene and immediately taken to the RMN Lumut Base Hospital for medical attention.
Suhaimy Mohamad Suhail, a senior operations commander from the fire and rescue department, sadly confirmed that all 10 victims on board had succumbed to their injuries. In response to the tragedy, the RMN announced the establishment of an “Investigation Board” to determine the cause of the incident. Additionally, they urged the public not to circulate any videos of the event out of respect for the privacy of the affected families and to ensure the integrity of the investigation process.
According to the Associated Press (AP), during a training session at the naval base in northern Perak state, two helicopters crashed, leading to a tragic incident. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences on X, stating, “The entire nation mourns the heart-wrenching and soul-wrenching tragedy that occurred today at Lumut TLDM Base, where two helicopters crashed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims, and we pray for their strength during this difficult time. This incident has deeply affected the families of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and is a significant loss for our country. I have been informed that the Ministry of Defense, particularly TLDM, will conduct an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the crash. We pray for the souls of those who lost their lives, may they find mercy and forgiveness for their sins. May God embrace them and grant them a special place by His side. Al Fatihah.”