Pilot & 4 MOH Personnel Killed In Helicopter Crash In Sarawak

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.

A BO-105 helicopter carrying five people, including the pilot, crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Airport (STOLport) in Ulu Baram, Sarawak, yesterday, 8 September

All five people on board, comprising the pilot and four Ministry of Health (MOH) personnel, were killed in the crash.

In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said it received notification of the incident at around 3.58pm.

"The helicopter was operating a Flying Doctor Service flight with five persons onboard, including the pilot," it said.

CAAM said the incident will be investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Ministry of Transport in accordance with Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016

According to Kosmo!, the victims were pilot Captain Zainol Afiq, medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, assistant medical officer Alexson Adit, and nurses Debra Moset and Jessie Paya.

Dr Ainul, 32, was from Kota Bharu and had been working at a hospital in Miri, Sarawak, since last year.

The Flying Doctor Service is an MOH programme that has provided healthcare to communities in remote areas of Sarawak since 1973

Medical teams typically comprise doctors, nurses, and assistant medical officers who travel to rural communities that have limited access to healthcare.

According to Berita Harian, on the day of the crash, the helicopter reportedly stopped in Long Siut to refuel before continuing to Long Lellang.

Bungan Tegong, 61, a grocery shop owner in Long Siut, said the helicopter landed at the settlement around noon, with the crew spending about an hour at her shop to rest, have drinks, and buy some items.

She said the crew also mentioned that weather conditions were poor due to haze before they departed.

"I asked them why they were still continuing their journey if they knew the weather conditions had been affected by the haze.

"One of them replied, 'We can't, aunty, because we already have an appointment with a patient,'" she said.

Bungan also said she recognised the pilot, who frequently operated Flying Doctor Service flights and would often stop in Long Siut to refuel.

Long Siut is a Kenyah settlement in the interior of Baram, Sarawak, located about a day's journey by four-wheel-drive from Long Lellang.