By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Sept 9: Rainy weather has delayed the deployment of a multi-agency team to the site of the helicopter crash near Long Lellang STOLport in Ulu Baram, with the flight to the area to proceed once weather and flight safety conditions permit.
As of 9.45am today, a Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) MI-171 helicopter (M994-04) had yet to depart due to the rain.
According to Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), the deployment is planned in stages, with the first flight carrying the operations team, followed by a second flight transporting the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) forensic team.
A total of 21 personnel from various agencies are being prepared for deployment to Long Lellang to continue operations following Tuesday (Sept 8) afternoon’s crash involving a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter.
The team comprises 15 personnel from the Bomba, four personnel from the Marudi District Police Headquarters, and one representative each from Layang-Layang Aerospace and Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB).
An operational briefing was held at the Sarawak Regional Air Base of Bomba in Miri before the deployment, covering flight safety, weather conditions, logistics and arrangements for operations at the crash site.
The briefing was delivered by Senior Fire Superintendent II Captain Robert James and attended by Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) and Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala; Miri Division Resident Galong Luang; Miri District Police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah; and Marudi District Police chief DSP Nor Aizan Mohd Jamil.
Operational coordination is being carried out among the PDRM, Bomba, MAB and Layang-Layang Aerospace to ensure the deployment of personnel and logistical requirements to Long Lellang is carried out safely and in an orderly manner.
Earlier, a helicopter operating the FDS was reported to have crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport on Tuesday afternoon.
As of the time of this report, the status of the five victims involved in the incident had yet to be officially confirmed by the authorities. Follow-up operations at Long Lellang are continuing through coordinated efforts involving multiple agencies. — DayakDaily
