KKM Helicopter Crash: SAR Operation Takes 10 Hours via Land Route

PETALING JAYA: A search and rescue (SAR) operation has been mounted to locate the five victims involved in the helicopter crash at the end of the runway at Long Lellang Airport here today.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said the incident was confirmed to have occurred at 3.32 pm.

According to him, initial information received indicated that there were five individuals on board the helicopter.

“The helicopter belongs to a company that was chartered to provide Flying Doctor Service at three locations, from Miri to Ba Lai, Long Siut and Long Lellang, Marudi, Sarawak.

“The status of all victims has yet to be ascertained,” he said in a statement today.

According to him, the SAR operation is still ongoing as the crash site is relatively remote and takes approximately 10 hours of overland travel from Marudi.

“Air services using helicopters cannot be deployed due to hazy weather and the fact that CAAM did not grant clearance for flights from the PDRM Air Base in Kuching,” he said.

Zainal said the SAR operation is currently relying on assistance from village residents, RELA members and auxiliary police at Long Lellang Airport.

“The search and rescue team will arrive at the scene as soon as possible. Passenger details involved will be confirmed later,” he said.

He also advised the public not to speculate on the incident to allow further investigation to be carried out together with the Air Accident Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Transport.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed that a BO-105 helicopter with registration number 9M-LLF had crashed near STOLport Long Lellang.

CAAM said it received notification of the incident from the Flight Information Service (FIS) at 3.58 pm.

The helicopter was conducting a Flying Doctor Service flight with five individuals on board, including the pilot.

Kosmo Online