Preliminary report on Sarawak Flying Doctor Service helicopter crash that killed five people expected to be presented to Cabinet tomorrow
KUALA LUMPUR: The preliminary investigation report into the crash of a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter that killed five people in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, Sarawak, on Sept 8 is expected to be presented to the Cabinet tomorrow.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the preliminary investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found that the pilot of the BO105 helicopter operated by Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd held a valid pilot licence and medical certificate.
He said the helicopter, registered as 9M-LLF and operating under a contract with the Ministry of Health (MOH), also had valid certificates of registration and airworthiness, and was certified airworthy at the time of departure.
“The investigation is still ongoing, and a final report on the air accident must be completed within one year of the date of the crash,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a question from Datuk Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri (GPS-Betong) on the dates of the safety audit, surveillance audit and last inspection conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) on the helicopter operator after the Long Lellang crash.