All six on board ill-fated heli found safe

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Five members of a medical team, including a doctor, were found safe with light injuries after the helicopter they were on board crashed while attempting an emergency landing in a forested area near Brinchang here early this afternoon.

A Pahang and Fire Rescue Department (JPBM) spokesman said the pilot of the private helicopter, only known as 'Capt Pedro', escaped injury.

The JPBM spokesman, meanwhile, said following a search and rescue (SAR), the victims were found safe at 3.51 pm.

"The victims have been given early treatment," the spokesman, adding that one of them suffered a broken leg.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) earlier said it had received information of an air crash in Cameron Highlands involving an Airbus AS 355 F2 helicopter with the registration number 9M-SSW at 1.03 pm.

CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Chester Voo, in a statement, said the helicopter with a pilot and five passengers on board had taken off from Kampung Gawin in Kelantan for Tanjung Rambutan, Perak at 12.20 pm.

The aircraft was operated by Layang Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd.

Voo added that further investigations will be handled by the Transport Ministry's Air Crash Investigation Bureau.

-- BERNAMA