KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia. A routine training session turned catastrophic on Tuesday as two Malaysian military helicopters collided midair, plummeting to the ground and claiming the lives of all 10 crew members on board. The tragic incident occurred during preparations for the navy’s 90th anniversary celebration at a naval base in northern Perak state, authorities confirmed.
The naval base released a somber statement, declaring, “All victims were confirmed dead on site,” following the collision. The rehearsal, which should have been a routine exercise, quickly turned into a scene of devastation captured in a video circulating on social media. The footage depicts helicopters flying in formation before one veers off course, colliding with another aircraft, sending both spiraling downward in a tragic descent.
Local authorities verified the authenticity of the video, which portrays the grim reality of the collision that left the two helicopters unrecognizable, shattered into pieces beyond repair. Rescue teams diligently combed through the wreckage in search of the bodies of the seven men and three women, whose ages ranged from 26 to 41.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed the nation’s collective grief over the “heart and soul-wrenching tragedy,” vowing an immediate investigation by the navy to ascertain the cause of the accident. The loss reverberated through the nation, prompting Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin to announce the cancellation of the upcoming anniversary celebration, replacing it with Friday prayers to honor the fallen victims.
Among the casualties were seven crew members aboard an AW139 maritime operations helicopter, a product of AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of the Italian defense giant Leonardo. The remaining three crew members were aboard a Fennec lightweight helicopter, manufactured by Airbus, a multinational defense conglomerate.
Minister Khaled revealed that the collision unfolded during a rehearsal involving seven helicopters. One aircraft crashed into an empty sports field, while the other descended into a nearby swimming pool, causing injury to a swimmer who was struck by debris from the falling wreckage.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
