By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 10: The helicopter involved in the fatal Flying Doctor Service (FDS) crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA) until Aug 4, 2027, while its Certificate of Registration remained valid until July 28, 2029.
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said the records showed that the aircraft remained certified to operate at the time of the crash.
Addressing concerns about the aircraft’s age and operational lifespan, he explained that the age alone was not a determining factor in establishing airworthiness, provided the aircraft was properly maintained and continued to comply with all applicable requirements.
“From an airworthiness perspective, age alone is not a determining factor, provided the aircraft is properly maintained in accordance with its approved maintenance programme and continues to meet all applicable airworthiness requirements,” he told reporters at the Malaysia Aviation Safety Seminar (MASS) 2026 in Kuala Lumpur today.
Meanwhile, Norazman emphasised that Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd has voluntarily grounded its entire fleet of BO-105 helicopters and other aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce 250-series engines as a precautionary safety measure following the crash two days ago, which claimed five lives.
He stressed that the voluntary grounding should not be taken as an indication that an engine or any other component was responsible for the accident.
“I wish to stress that this grounding is precautionary. It is a precautionary safety measure taken by the operator. It should not be interpreted as an indication that the engine or any other particular component caused the accident,” he said.
Norazman added that CAAM was monitoring the operator’s grounding and inspection programme, while verifying the relevant regulatory, operator and pilot records.
The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry is independently investigating the crash.
“Any confirmed findings concerning the cause of the accident must come from AAIB following a thorough examination of the evidence. AAIB is responsible for establishing the circumstances, contributing factors, and cause of the accident, and CAAM is fully cooperating with the investigation and providing all relevant records,” he said.
Norazman also urged the public and media to refrain from speculating on the cause of the crash until the investigation is completed.
“At this stage, it would be premature to speculate on whether the accident was caused by a technical issue, weather conditions, human factors, or any other factors,” he said.
Asked whether the operator had any previous history of air crashes, Norazman said CAAM would review its official records before releasing further details.
He added that, in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 standards, AAIB would issue a preliminary investigation report within 30 days of the incident, followed by a final report within one year.
The BO-105 helicopter, which was operating an FDS mission, crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-off and Landing Airport (STOLport) in Ulu Baram, about 929 kilometres from Kuching, on Sept 8.
All five people on board were killed, including the 30-year-old pilot, Capt Zainol Afiq Bee Sham.
The other victims were medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33; medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31; and nurses Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44. — Bernama
