By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 9: The BO-105 helicopter that crashed near Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing airport (STOLport) while carrying out a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) mission had been in service supporting healthcare operations in Sarawak for 17 years.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said the helicopter, registered as 9M-LLF, was a BO 105 S (CBS 5) model manufactured in Germany in 1991.
“The aircraft had been used to transport Ministry of Health Malaysia personnel in Sarawak since 2009, supporting healthcare operations in several parts of the state, particularly Miri, Bintulu, Limbang, Marudi and Bario,” he said in a statement today.
The helicopter’s long-running role was part of the logistical effort required to bring medical services to remote communities where access by road is difficult.
The FDS provides scheduled healthcare services to rural and hard-to-reach communities, including medical consultations, medicines and vaccinations, while medical evacuation missions are also carried out when required. The service has been an important component of healthcare delivery in Sarawak since it was introduced in the State in 1973.
Mohamad Zainal said the aircraft crashed at about 3.21pm yesterday while attempting to land at the Long Lellang airstrip.
“It had earlier departed Miri at 10.21am and landed at Ba’ Lai before continuing to Long Siut, Selungo, where it refuelled. It then flew towards Long Lellang, where the crew was scheduled to spend the night before continuing with another FDS assignment in Tanjong Durian today,” he disclosed.
Five people were killed in the crash, namely pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry and staff nurses Debra Moset and Jessie Paya Jok.
The crash highlights the critical role of air connectivity in delivering healthcare to Sarawak’s remote communities, many of which remain difficult to reach by road. The Long Lellang STOLport, for example, serves rural communities including some of the State’s remote Kelabit and Penan settlements.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said today that the FDS would continue despite the tragedy, stressing that the service remained important in ensuring access to healthcare, particularly for rural communities.
He said the Health Ministry did not own its own helicopter assets for FDS operations but obtained the service through contractual leasing arrangements that also covered maintenance.
The Air Accident Investigation Bureau under the Transport Ministry will investigate the crash, while authorities have urged the public not to speculate as investigations continue. — DayakDaily
