Ten killed after navy helicopters
Two Malaysian navy helicopters collided in mid-air as they flew in formation during a rehearsal for a military parade, killing all 10 crew on board.
One of the aircraft clipped the other’s rotor before colliding with the ground, according to footage published by local media.
The event occurred at 09:30 local time (02:30 BST) near the Malaysian town of Lumut, which hosts a Royal Malaysian Navy facility.
There are no known survivors.
All victims were confirmed dead on the scene, and their remains were sent to the [Lumut] Military Hospital for identification,” said the Royal Malaysian Navy.
It also stated that it would organize a committee to investigate the cause of the occurrence.
One of the helicopters, a HOM M503-3 with seven passengers on board, is thought to have fallen into a jogging track.
The other, a Fennec M502-6 carrying the remaining three victims, collided with a swimming pool nearby. Ten killed after navy helicopters
The state’s fire and rescue agency said it was notified of the situation around 09:50 local time (01:50 GMT).
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “the nation mourns the heart-wrenching and soul-wrenching tragedy”.
Condolences to all the families of the victims and prayers for strength to face this calamity, he went on to say.
In March, a Malaysian coast guard helicopter crashed into the sea off Malaysia’s Angsa Island during a training flight. Ten killed after navy helicopters
The pilot, co-pilot and two passengers on board were found and rescued by fishermen. Ten killed after navy helicopters
One Japanese naval crewman has died and seven others are missing after two helicopters crashed during a night-time drill in the Pacific Ocean.
The twin-engine Mitsubishi SH-60Ks were on anti-submarine training near the Izu Islands, 600km (372 miles) south of Tokyo, officials said.
Two flight recorders were discovered close to each other as was debris including parts of rotor blades.
Defence Minister Minoru Kihara said the cause of the accident was unknown.
“Firstly we do our best to save lives,” Mr Kihara said adding the helicopters were “doing drills to counter submarines at night”.
A crew member was taken from the waters but was confirmed to have died.
Communication with one helicopter was lost at 22:38 local time (14:38 BST) off the island of Torishima, broadcaster NHK reports.
One minute later an emergency signal was received from this aircraft. Ten killed after navy helicopters
After 25 minutes, the military realised communication with the other aircraft, also a Mitsubishi SH-60K, was lost in the same area.
The Mitsubishi SH-60K helicopters – based on the Sikorsky Seahawk – mainly operate from naval destroyers.
The navy said as there were no other aircraft nor vessels in nearby waters, involvement of another country in the incident was unlikely.
Japan is boosting defence spending and deepening cooperation with the US and other countries in Asia in response to growing Chinese assertiveness in the Taiwanese region. Ten killed after navy helicopters
In April 2023 a Japanese army helicopter with 10 people on board crashed off Miyako island in southern Okinawa.
The UH60 helicopter, known as a Black Hawk, had been surveying the local area at the time it disappeared.
A senior Ground Self Defence Force commander, Lieutenant General Yuichi Sakamoto, was among those on the flight. There were no survivors.
