IPOH: Authorities have launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation for a helicopter that is believed to have crashed in the southern region of Perak.
Transport minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong said the helicopter lost contact with the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre today at 12.16pm.
“The helicopter took off from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang at 11.37am for a general flight.
“The latest information I have received is that the helicopter had grounded somewhere between Bidor and Langkap,” he told reporters after an event in Ipoh.
He said one pilot was reportedly on board the aircraft scheduled to land in Subang at 12.37pm.
Wee said a team from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), led by its chief executive officer Chester Voo, is carrying out a ground search with the cooperation of Tapah police.
“We pray that the search and rescue team will obtain the necessary information to pinpoint the exact location of the aircraft, and we hope for good news.
“According to the control tower, the radar showed that the aircraft is already on ground level, but we need to be certain and not make assumptions. A full report will be issued by CAAM,” he said.
Tapah police chief Wan Azharuddin Wan Ismail, when contacted, said coordinates provided by CAAM indicated that the helicopter’s last known position was near the Chikus forest reserve, near Langkap, in Teluk Intan.
Tapah and Teluk Intan police are conducting a search in that area along with a fire and rescue department team, he added.
In a statement later, Voo said the helicopter is a Eurocopter EC120B operated by Heli Outpost Sdn Bhd.
“The radar system in the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control had recorded a sharp loss of altitude of the helicopter. The air traffic control officer tried to make contact with the pilot but there was no distress call made.
“Review from the radar readings indicated a large loss of altitude in less than one minute. The Kuala Lumpur Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre was immediately activated to determine the location of the helicopter,” he said.
He said helicopters from the air force and the police are currently at the last known location to conduct the search and rescue efforts.
