Tuesday, April 23, 2024, marked a somber day as two helicopters collided mid-air during a rehearsal for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade, leading to the tragic loss of ten lives. The incident unfolded at the Lumut naval base in Perak, with the devastating crash occurring at 9.32 a.m. (0132 GMT).
The helicopters involved in the accident were an AW139 maritime operation helicopter, carrying seven crew members, and a Fennec lightweight helicopter, with three crew members onboard. The AW139 belonged to AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defense contractor Leonardo, and the Fennec was produced by European defense conglomerate Airbus.
Tragically, all ten crew members perished in the accident, with local media reporting that the AW139 crashed at a sports complex within the naval base, while the Fennec struck a nearby swimming pool. The Navy has expressed deep sorrow for the loss of the crew members and has commenced an investigation to determine the cause of this devastating incident.
