Airbus offers support in probe of Sungai Pulai police chopper crash
The aircraft manufacturer said that it was ready to support both investigators and its customer in the ongoing probe to determine the cause of the accident.
"Airbus is aware of an accident near Sungai Pulai in Malaysia involving an AS355N. Our thoughts are with those affected by the incident.
"The Malaysian authorities are currently investigating the precise circumstances of the accident, and Airbus stands ready to support our customer and the authorities as required," an Airbus spokesperson told the New Straits Times.
Under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Chicago Convention Annex 13 — which outlines the standards and recommended practices for aircraft accident and incident investigations — aircraft manufacturers may provide technical expertise and data in support of investigations. However, they assist only at the request of the investigating authority and do not lead or control the investigation.
It was earlier reported that the wreckage of the police Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS355N, which crashed near Sungai Pulai yesterday, has yet to be cleared.
A site inspection revealed two black buoys placed as markers at the crash site near the river.
According to protocol, investigations must first be carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry, in collaboration with the Police Air Operations Force, before any recovery of the wreckage can begin.
The helicopter is expected to be removed once on-site investigations are concluded.
The aircraft crashed yesterday near the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) jetty in Gelang Patah during a flypast demonstration for the multilateral MITSATOM 2025 exercise involving Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore.
In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed that the crash involved a helicopter bearing the registration number 9M-PHG.
The helicopter had departed from the Tanjung Kupang police station at 9.51am with five people on board, including the pilot. Two of the five were reported to be in critical condition.
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