Khaled: Govt is not suspending service of Fennec, HOM helicopters

 

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government has no plans to temporarily suspend the service of Fennec and HOM helicopters.

"So far, it's not in that direction (temporary suspension)," he told reporters after completing the handover of “Rumah Kasih Ihsan” at Kampung Dusun Tembakau in Manir today.

Khaled said this when asked if there was a need to suspend the services of both types of helicopters following the crash on Tuesday morning involving the Maritime Operations Helicopter helicopter (HOM-AW139) and Fennec helicopter (M502-6) at the navy base in Lumut, Perak - which killed 10 navy officers and personnel including three women.

All the remains of the crew who died in the crash were laid to rest with the last body, T Sivasutan, 31, cremated at the Manjung Hindu Sabha Sanathana Dharma Ashram Crematorium Centre in Sitiawan at 12.15pm on Thursday.

In the meantime, Khaled confirmed that the wreckage of the two aircraft, including the black box, had already been removed from the scene of the incident, on Thursday.

"I was informed that everything has been moved to the place where the investigation is being carried out," he said.

The minister added that the investigation into the incident conducted by an investigation board established by the navy will also involve the air force and other experts - including the helicopter manufacturers.

In addition, he also did not rule out the possibility that the investigation would involve external experts.

- Bernama