During a rehearsal
Videos of the accident posted online show seven helicopters flying low in formation above the stadium at the Lumut naval base in the western state of Perak during a rehearsal ahead of a planned navy event in May.
When two of the helicopters broke away from the formation, and turned right, one of them can be seen hitting the tail rotor of the other. Both aircraft then spun and crashed. In the footage, witnesses to the crash can be heard shouting: “Allah, Allah, Allah”. The two helicopters involved are a Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec and an AgustaWestland AW139, emergency services said.
Photos taken from the accident scene show rescue workers surrounding the badly damaged Eurocopter on the runway at the naval base stadium as well as various debris. The AgustaWestland crashed in the base’s swimming pool area. “The nation mourns after this heartbreaking tragedy for the heart and soul,” wrote Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a message of condolences addressed to the families of the victims.