Rescue exercise gone wrong: An AW139 helicopter operated by the MMEA made an emergency landing during a rescue exercise in the waters of Pulau Angsa, Selangor. — Bernama
KUALA SELANGOR: It was supposed to be a casual fishing outing for eight friends, but it turned out to be more like an action film when they saw a helicopter fall into the sea near them, off Pulau Angsa.
Mohd Riduan Kulop Ahmad said he had rented a boat with his friends, adding that a boatman told him there was a good spot to fish near Pulau Angsa.
“We hopped on the boat and started fishing there, and things were quiet for about an hour until we noticed a low-flying helicopter.
“The boatman assured us by saying that the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) regularly conducts training in the area.
“However, something did not seem right,” he said yesterday.
He said they suddenly noticed the helicopter spinning like it was out of control before falling into the sea.
The businessman, who is in his 30s, said he immediately contacted 999 while two other boats approached the helicopter to help the crew.
“It took maybe 15 or 20 minutes before authorities arrived and airlifted the victims,” he said.
MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin said the incident occurred around 9.55am yesterday.
“The initial distress call was made via MERS 999 by a fisherman in the vicinity of the incident,” he said in a statement.
He said a search and rescue operation was immediately activated by the Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM) and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at 10.15am.
“The AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter was piloted by Leftenan Komander (M) Tengku Mohd Nizam Tengku Zakaria and Leftenan Komander (M) Mohamad Azrol Saidi,” he said.
The other crew members were warrant officer John Ibno and rescue diver Muhamad Nurhayyat Hashim.
He said a helicopter and two boats were deployed to the scene.
“A fishing boat nearby gave first aid to the crew before they were airlifted by helicopter and brought to the Subang Maritime Air Station.
“Ten personnel from the MMEA special task and rescue team and the KM Bagan Datuk patrol vessel were deployed to secure the location,” he said, adding that the cause of the incident was being investigated.
He said the crew members involved did not require medical treatment and had been brought back to the Subang Maritime Air Station.
Meanwhile, CAAM chief executive officer Capt Datuk Norazman Mahmud said the MMEA will investigate the incident.
“CAAM confirms that a helicopter model AW139, registration number M72-01, operated by the MMEA crashed into the water near Pulau Angsa in Klang, Selangor, yesterday.
“The aircraft departed from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, at 9.10am for a training flight,” he said in a statement.
He added that the last contact made by the aircraft with air traffic control was at 9.20am.
“There was no distress call received.
“The Kuala Lumpur Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre at Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre was immediately activated to determine the location of the helicopter,” he said.
