Latest news with #MITSATOM
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Police helicopter 9M-PHG played key role in Lahad Datu, major operations before crash
JOHOR BARU: The police AS355N helicopter bearing registration number 9M-PHG, which recently crashed in Gelang Patah, is being remembered for its extensive service in critical and humanitarian missions. Since news of its crash in Sungai Pulai during a nuclear detection training exercise last Thursday, many have recalled their experiences with the aircraft, whether flying in it or witnessing its role in various operations. Police Air Operation Force commander Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani described the 28-year-old aircraft as 'small but mighty', highlighting its key contribution during the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu militants in Kampung Tanduo, Sabah. Noor Sham, who has logged nearly 7,000 flight hours on the AS355N, said he flew 9M-PHG to evacuate injured General Operations Force (GOF) personnel to hospitals in Sandakan and Lahad Datu during the armed standoff. "From day one of the incident, three AS355N helicopters, including 9M-PHG, and their crews were stationed in Lahad Datu for nearly three weeks before the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft arrived," he told Bernama. The helicopter was involved in an accident at 10.15am on Thursday during the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025 at the Gelang Patah Maritime Jetty. The exercise involved Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said the helicopter had departed from the Tanjung Kupang police station at 9.51am with five people on board, including the pilot. Noor Sham said 9M-PHG had just participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (Lima '25) and was one of the most frequently deployed aircraft for humanitarian missions, including disaster relief, flood evacuations, as well as traffic and crime surveillance. The aircraft also supported major national operations, such as aerial surveillance during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in April and during the enforcement of the Covid-19 Movement Control Order (MCO). "Its compact size made it ideal for command-and-control tasks. "We often used it for initial reconnaissance because of its ability to manoeuvre in tight areas, before deploying larger aircraft like the AW139 if needed," he said. In Johor, 9M-PHG was used to airlift three pregnant women, aged 22 to 33, from flood-isolated Orang Asli villages in Kahang, Kluang, to the hospital. Police force currently operates five AS355N helicopters, with two of them in Sabah, one in Sarawak and two in Peninsular Malaysia, including 9M-PHG. – Bernama
The Sun
14 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
PDRM helicopter 9M-PHG's key role in Lahad Datu before crash
JOHOR BAHRU: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) AS355N helicopter bearing registration number 9M-PHG, which recently crashed in Gelang Patah, is being remembered for its extensive service in critical and humanitarian missions. Since news of its crash in Sungai Pulai during a nuclear detection training exercise last Thursday, many have recalled their experiences with the aircraft, whether flying in it or witnessing its role in various operations. Police Air Operation Force (PGU) commander Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani described the 28-year-old aircraft as 'small but mighty', highlighting its key contribution during the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu militants in Kampung Tanduo, Sabah. Noor Sham, who has logged nearly 7,000 flight hours on the AS355N, said he flew 9M-PHG to evacuate injured General Operations Force (PGA) personnel to hospitals in Sandakan and Lahad Datu during the armed standoff. 'From day one of the incident, three AS355N helicopters, including 9M-PHG, and their crews were stationed in Lahad Datu for nearly three weeks before the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft arrived,' he told Bernama. The helicopter was involved in an accident at 10.15 am on Thursday during the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025 at the Gelang Patah Maritime Jetty. The exercise involved Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), the helicopter had departed from the Tanjung Kupang police station at 9.51 am with five people on board, including the pilot. Noor Sham said 9M-PHG had just participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA '25) and was one of the most frequently deployed aircraft for humanitarian missions, including disaster relief, flood evacuations, as well as traffic and crime surveillance. The aircraft also supported major national operations, such as aerial surveillance during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in April and during the enforcement of the COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO). 'Its compact size made it ideal for command-and-control tasks. We often used it for initial reconnaissance because of its ability to manoeuvre in tight areas, before deploying larger aircraft like the AW139 if needed,' he explained. In Johor, 9M-PHG was used to airlift three pregnant women, aged 22 to 33, from flood-isolated Orang Asli villages in Kahang, Kluang, to the hospital.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
MMEA's STAR team praised for heroic PDRM helicopter crash rescue
JOHOR BAHRU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's Special Task and Rescue (STAR) team has been commended for their rapid and effective response following the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) helicopter crash in Sungai Pulai. Their swift action ensured all five Air Operations Force (PGU) members were rescued without fatalities. The MMEA highlighted the team's efforts in a Facebook post, praising their courage and professionalism. 'The team, led by Maritime Lieutenant Nur Mohd Farhan Mohd Hamil, demonstrated exceptional bravery in rescuing all victims despite challenging conditions,' the post stated. The incident occurred at 10.15 am during the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025, a joint operation involving Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. The AS355N helicopter, registered as 9M-PHG, crashed near the Gelang Patah Maritime Jetty after departing from Tanjung Kupang Police Station at 9.51 am. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), the helicopter carried five individuals, including the pilot. Two officers were reported in critical condition, requiring respiratory support at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA). Bukit Aman's Internal Security and Public Order Department director, Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim, confirmed that three victims were in regular wards, one remained sedated in the ICU, and another was under intensive care. - Bernama
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Police heli crash: Constable still in ICU, four in stable condition
JOHOR BARU: A police constable remains sedated in the intensive care unit (ICU), while four other personnel are reported to be in stable condition following yesterday's helicopter crash near Sungai Pulai, Gelang Patah. Constable RG Devendran is being treated at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here after the AS355N police helicopter crashed during a multi-agency simulation held in conjunction with the Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand-Singapore 2025 Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM). Federal police Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said he visited all five injured policemen today and was assured by hospital staff that their conditions were improving. "Only one personnel remains sedated to limit movement and speed up the healing process. "The other four, including Corporal Adline Liu Yan Siu, are conscious and stable," he said outside HSA this afternoon. The police helicopter crashed at about 10am yesterday during a fly-past demonstration. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed that the AS355N helicopter, registration 9M-PHG, had departed from the Tanjung Kupang Police Air Base at 9.51am with five policemen on board, including the pilot.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Father recounts son's final call before police chopper crash
JOHOR BARU: "Before my son took off in the helicopter, he called me and asked for my prayers for everything to go smoothly," said Baharom Mohamed, 82. Baharom is the father of Superintendent Ahmad Bustamin Baharom, 46, who was involved in a helicopter crash along with four other crew members aboard an AS355N helicopter that went down near Sungai Pulai, Gelang Patah yesterday. Baharom said that shortly after the call, he received a phone call from the authorities informing him that his son had been involved in the crash. "My son called to let me know he was about to board a helicopter and asked me to pray for his safety before take-off. "Not long after, I received another call saying the helicopter he was in had crashed. I was shocked, but thank God, he survived and is now being treated in a general ward. "He suffered fractured bones, including his ribs, swelling to his face, and numbness in his legs, but he's able to talk and recount what happened," he said when met after visiting his son at the main lobby of Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) today. Baharom, a retired school principal, said his son was the first to emerge from the wreckage, which had crashed into the water, before being rescued by emergency responders. He added that his son was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the incident. "We're truly grateful because Ahmad Bustamin had previously undergone relevant training. During yesterday's incident, he managed to exit the wreckage on his own while still conscious and was rescued. "My wife, Che Ma Abu Bakar, 75, and I, along with the rest of the family, including Ahmad Bustamin's wife, travelled from Alor Star, Kedah at 10pm last night and arrived at 8am this morning. Ahmad Bustamin has four children aged 16, 13, 12, and 9. "Coincidentally, his eldest child who attends school in Alor Star happened to be in Johor for a school programme, so they were able to meet," he said. Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said that two of the five crew members on board the police AS355N helicopter that crashed near Sungai Pulai, Gelang Patah, were reported to be in critical condition. Both victims were on respiratory support, while the remaining three were in stable condition. The AS355 helicopter, owned by the police, was forced to make an emergency landing near the Sungai Pulai jetty in Gelang Patah while participating in the Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand-Singapore Maritime Operation (MITSATOM) 2025 training exercise. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed in a statement that the crash involved an AS355N helicopter with the registration number 9M-PHG. According to CAAM, the helicopter operated by the police departed from the Tanjung Kupang Police Station at 9.51am carrying five occupants, including the pilot.
