Two military helicopters collided during a training session in northern Malaysia on Tuesday, injuring a person who was swimming in a pool when the aircraft crashed into the water. The helicopters were rehearsing for the 90th-anniversary celebration of the Royal Malaysian Navy when they crashed midair after departing from a naval base in Lumut, about 130 miles northwest of Kuala Lumpur.
One helicopter, carrying three crew members, crashed into a swimming pool in the naval base’s sports complex, injuring one person who was swimming at the time. The other helicopter, carrying seven people, crashed in an empty sports field.
A video of the incident circulating on social media appears to show one of the helicopters clipping the rotor of the other before the two collide and crash into the ground. The victims were identified as seven men and three women, according to Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
“A total of seven helicopters were involved in the rehearsal that was into the fourth day today,” Khaled said Tuesday.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement shared on social media the nation mourned over the “tragic incident involving the crash of two helicopters at Lumut TLDM Base.”
The 90th Naval Day celebration was originally scheduled for Sunday. All events to mark the date have now been canceled, officials said. Instead, prayers for the victims will be held on Friday.
