Ten people died after two helicopters collided in midair during a rehearsal for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade.
The incident took place at the Malaysian navy’s Lumut base, 160 kilometers northwest of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, at around 9:30 a.m. local time.
An AW139 maritime operations helicopter, with seven crew members, and a Navy Fennec, with three crew members, participated in the accident.
Photo: Perak Fire and Rescue Department
Photo: Perak Fire and Rescue Department
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“All victims were confirmed to have died on the spot and were sent to the Lumut base military hospital for the identification process,” the navy said in a statement.
“(We) will establish a board of inquiry to identify the cause of the incident.”
The helicopters crashed during training for a flyover to mark Malaysia’s 90th Naval Day celebrations, which will be held on Saturday.
Local media reported that the AW139 crashed into a sports complex at the naval base, while the Fennec crashed into a nearby swimming pool.
Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said efforts were underway to verify the crew’s identities.
members who died in the accident, all of them under 40 years of age.