Published on: Monday, August 23, 2004 |
Kota Kinabalu: The Royal Malaysian Air Force may build an emergency landing area between Bakelalan and Miri, in Sarawak, in the wake of two recent helicopter crashes, if the present flight path is to be maintained.
Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin said the military might have no alternative but to create the facility for use by aircraft in distress, if the Sarawak Government or Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) had no plans to this effect for the moment.
It is better than landing on trees as what had happened recently, he told reporters after visiting to RMAF personnel warded at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, here, Sunday.
The matter would be discussed with the Sarawak Government and the DCA.
The RMAF duo - Captain Nurul Amir Othman and Air Warrant Officer II Mohd Ahzani Ibrahim - were among seven survivors of the Nuri air force helicopter crash, which killed three people.
The crash happened within 20 days of a Bell helicopter crash, which killed all seven people on board, including Sarawaks Assistant Minister Dr Judson Tagal.
When asked on the condition of the two air force men he visited, Zainal said the captain sustained injuries to his hand and leg while the warrant officer to both legs. Both are in stable condition after undergoing surgery.
According to him, the families of both had requested the patients to be transferred to the Kuching General Hospital (in the case of Nurul) and the National Universiti Malaysia Hospital or HUKM (Mohd Ahzani).
I have advised them to get advice from the doctors, because looking at the fractures the men sustained, it might affect their condition.
The military, specifically the air force, has agreed to fly both men to Kuching and Kuala Lumpur, respectively, he said.
Responding to a question, Zainal said the downed helicopter was still at the crash site and would have to be cannibalised in parts to facilitate airlifting to base.
Due to weather and winds, which are often irregular and unfriendly, the helicopter had to be dismantled by experts, he said.
