Medical helicopter crashes in Malaysia, killing five health ministry staff

A medical helicopter carrying health ministry personnel crashed near a rural airport in Sarawak state, killing all five people on board.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said initial information showed a pilot and four ministry staff were aboard the chopper that went down near Long Lellang short take-off and landing airport. The passengers included a medical officer, an assistant medical officer and two nurses on official duty.

A disaster management committee official in Miri, Sarawak, confirmed the deaths to state news agency Bernama.

Search operations at the crash site were complicated by hazy conditions, with rescuers barred from using air services. A flying doctor service typically uses aircraft to provide medical care, emergency transport and clinical services to rural or isolated regions.

The civil aviation authority said the transport ministry's air accident investigations bureau was investigating the incident.

Source: South China Morning Post