Police helicopter wreckage retrieved from Johor's Sungai Pulai, black box next in probe
The wreckage of the twin-engine light utility helicopter was earlier floated above the water level at 11am, before being lifted onto a by crane into a salvage vessel about 15 minutes later.
The operation, which started at 8am, saw the salvage vessel and two Marine Police Force (MPF) patrol boats at the location of the helicopter's crash site before raising the wreckage.
Clear and favourable weather conditions helped the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and MPF divers in the wreckage recovery efforts.
At the nearby Sungai Pulai operations centre, representatives from the police, RMN, Air Accident Investigation Bureau, Tanjung Pelepas Port, Johor Port Authority, the Fire and Rescue Department and Health Ministry were at hand to assist in the recovery efforts.
Following the successful recovery, investigators will probe into the helicopter's communication recording device that is believed to be inside the wreckage.
Last Thursday, the Airbus AS355N police helicopter with registration number 9M-PHG crashed while performing a flypast simulation in conjunction with the Multi-Directional Exercise on Nuclear Security Detection, Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand-Singapore (MITSATOM) 2025 joint exercise.
However, the helicopter's five crew members, who are police personnel, survived the crash.
The incident left two crew members, Constable RG Devendran from the Tanjung Kupang police station and Corporal Adeline Liu Yan Sin, from the police air unit, in critical condition.
The helicopter's pilot, Assistant Commissioner Faizul Muhammad; his co-pilot, Superintendent Ahmad Bustamin Baharom and Sergeant Siti Latipa Khairuddin were reported to be recovering and in stable condition.
All five victims are currently receiving treatment at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here.
The Airbus AS355N, prior to that it was under Eurocopter, is a popular variant and used by both private individuals and companies, private helicopter charter, as well as law enforcement and government service.
The police currently operate a fleet of five Airbus AS355N helicopters since taking delivery in 1996.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
29 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
No road closures for July 26 rally, but KL police to boost presence at 15 locations
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — Police will not close any roads here this Saturday during the #TurunAnwar rally, but will instead manage traffic flow and deploy additional personnel to 15 train stations in the city centre. Acting Kuala Lumpur Police Chief DCP Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad also urged rally-goers to remain peaceful and warned against any attempts to create chaos. He also confirmed that police have received advance notice from the rally organiser, PAS Youth, for the demonstration, which is expected to draw between 10,000 and 15,000 participants. Rally participants are expected to gather at five main locations — Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru, and the Sogo shopping mall — before heading to Dataran Merdeka. To ensure public safety, Mohamed Usuf said police and public transport service providers would increase their presence at the following 15 locations: LRT stations: KL Sentral, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek, Dang Wangi, Plaza Rakyat, Bandaraya, Sultan MRT stations: Muzium Negara, Merdeka, Bukit Monorail stations: Imbi, Raja Chulan, Bukit Nanas, Medan Tuanku, Chow Kit 'This measure is being taken to ensure that the smooth operation of public services is not disrupted by the rally and that there is no impact on the country's economic stability,' he said in a statement today, urging public transport providers to take all necessary safety precautions. While police anticipate traffic congestion heading into the city centre due to the influx of participants, the official reiterated that no road closures are planned. 'However, PDRM will still carry out monitoring and traffic control to ensure smooth public movement,' he said. Mohamed Usuf urged the rally organiser and participants to comply with existing laws while exercising their right to peaceful assembly this Saturday. He advised the organiser and participants to: Not bring any sharp objects (metal/ wood); Not bring weapons (such as knife, machete, other dangerous objects); Not bring or lit fireworks/ firecrackers/ smoke bombs/ flares; Not write, bring or display placards with 3R (race, religion, royalty) elements; Not make defamatory speeches/ false allegations; Not bring children during the rally; Not riot and go against orders given by the authorities. 'Firm action will be taken against any individuals or groups that spark unrest, riots, or extreme provocation,' he warned, adding that the police are committed to ensuring security in Kuala Lumpur remains under control. Those with queries can contact the Kuala Lumpur police hotline at 03-2115 9999 or any nearby police station.
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
City council under fire as protest erupts over stray dog culling in Ipoh
IPOH, July 23 — Approximately 100 members from various animal rights groups gathered today to protest the Ipoh City Council's policy of euthanising stray dogs. The group staged a protest outside the council's enforcement department office, voicing outrage over the recent euthanasia and burial of several dogs at a pound in Lahat, which they claim was done inhumanely and in violation of previous agreements. Jesse Morrias, president of Persatuan Pencinta Anjing Jalanan Ipoh Perak, said the NGOs were not informed about the council's decision to implement the 'put to sleep' (PTS) policy. 'When the council introduced this PTS policy, they should have informed all the NGOs. They claimed to have sent letters, but that's not true,' she told reporters. 'If we had known, there wouldn't be such a viral public outcry. Only after the video went viral did they hold a meeting — and most NGOs weren't even invited.' Jesse also questioned the necessity of the policy, pointing out that the city council had previously agreed with NGOs to carry out a Trap-Neuter-Release and Manage (TNRM) programme, under which neutered stray dogs were released and managed, not euthanised. 'Some of the dogs shown in the video with cropped ears were part of the TNRM programme. This is not the way to handle things. The programme was funded by public donations. 'Killing these dogs defeats the purpose of TNRM and wastes public resources,' she said. Ricky Soong, the president of the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), urged the authorities to be transparent about their procedures for euthanising strays. 'We haven't been given any clear explanation — why the dogs were caught, or why they were euthanised. That's why we are here today: to demand answers,' he said. Soong also disputed the city council's claim that no one came forward to claim the captured dogs, saying that some NGO members who visited the enforcement department were told the dogs had already been sent to the Papan landfill. He added that the state government should allocate land for NGOs to continue the TNRM programme, as many shelters are currently operating beyond capacity. During the protest, Perak MCA information chief Chung Kuk Heung announced that the party had submitted a memorandum signed by over 100 individuals to the Ipoh Mayor and Perak Menteri Besar. The memorandum, supported by several NGOs, calls for a full, independent investigation into the incident, disciplinary action against any responsible parties, and full disclosure and auditing of the council's SOPs for managing strays. This protest came after a press conference earlier today where the council's enforcement and safety director, Ahmad Zaiyadi Sudin, denied claims that the dogs were buried alive. He insisted that the euthanasia was carried out in accordance with SOP after a mandatory three-day holding period for dogs caught following public complaints.
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Guan Eng told me to set up firm to move bribes, key witness businessman Gnanaraja tells court
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — The key prosecution witness in the Penang undersea tunnel corruption trial involving Lim Guan Eng told the Sessions Court today that his vehicle company was used as a conduit for bribery payments to the former chief minister. Businessman G. Gnanaraja, 44, testified that Lim had instructed him to set up a company, Bumi Muhibah Capital Holding Sdn Bhd, and open a bank account for it. The company was incorporated on Aug 10, 2016, and in August 2017, he used it to facilitate bribe payments to Lim. 'All instructions to establish the company and open the account were given by Lim while we were in a car en route to Publika on Aug 20, 2017. The company held a CIMB Bank account at the CIMB KLCC branch. 'I had full access to the account as I was the sole authorised individual to withdraw funds,' he said while reading his witness statement during the trial involving the Penang road and undersea tunnel project. The 37th prosecution witness added that he became acquainted with Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, then Director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB), around May 2017. Between Aug 10 and 19, 2017, they communicated regarding Gnanaraja acting as the intermediary between Zarul Ahmad and Lim. Gnanaraja testified that Datuk Zarul selected him as an intermediary to deliver cash to Lim based on trust and the fact that he was not affiliated with any opposition party at the time. He further stated that during a meeting at Hotel Impiana in Ipoh on Aug 18, 2017, he and Zarul discussed a sum of RM2 million that Zarul intended to hand over to Lim. 'Later that day, around 5 pm, while I was at home, Datuk Zarul called and asked to meet him at Eastin Hotel, Petaling Jaya at 6 pm. Upon arrival, Datuk Zarul exited his vehicle, retrieved two dark-coloured bags and placed them in the boot of my car. 'I understood the bags contained cash as Datuk Zarul said '1M' while placing the first bag and '1M' again with the second. By '1M', I understood him to mean one million ringgit,' he said. Gnanaraja added that upon returning home, he opened both bags and found they contained bundles of RM100 banknotes. 'I did not count the bundles of cash. I confirm that both bags remained in my study and were not moved until I received a call from Datuk Zarul on Aug 20, 2017,' he said. Gnanaraja said, on that morning, he received a phone call from Zarul Ahmad instructing him to prepare one of the bags containing RM1 million and proceed to the vicinity of Hotel Wen Worth in Pudu to pick up Lim. 'When we reached there, Lim, dressed in the official white chief minister's attire bearing the Penang state crest, entered Datuk Zarul's car. I was wearing a batik shirt. 'Lim greeted us and exchanged pleasantries with both of us. He informed me that he had initially intended to arrange a meeting between me and an individual named Datuk Ewein, but chose instead to speak with me directly to discuss confidential financial matters intended for his benefit,' Gnanaraja testified. According to the amended first charge, Lim, 64, is accused, in his capacity as the then chief minister of Penang, of abusing his position to receive a bribe of RM3.3 million to assist a company owned by Zarul Ahmad in securing the Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project in Penang, valued at RM6,341,383,702. The offence allegedly took place between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Chief Minister's Office in Penang. Under the amended second charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10 percent bribe out of the project's future profits from Zarul Ahmad for assisting his company in securing the same project. The solicitation allegedly took place near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, between 12.30 am and 2.00 am in March 2011. Additionally, Lim faces two charges of disposing of a couple of state-owned lots of land in Penang, valued at RM208.8 million, to a developer linked to the undersea tunnel project. These offences were allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Komtar, on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017. The trial before Judge Azura Alwi resumes on Aug 19. — Bernama
