Chopper crash: DCA denies delay in issuing SAR alert

The Civil Aviation Department (DCA) today denied claims that there was a delay in issuing the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations alert for the RPC 6828 helicopter.

Speaking at a press conference, DCA director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said they need to go through several procedures before issuing any alerts.

The helicopter carrying Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon and five others, lost contact with the air traffic control (ATC) tower at 4:28pm on Thursday .

According to Azharuddin, his office issued the SAR alert at 7:26pm after several attempts to contact the helicopter failed .

“At 4:15pm , they (helicopter pilot) contacted the control tower. Before they arrived in Simunjan, the ATC tried to contact them again at 4:28pm but there was no response.

“Then, we made several attempts to contact the helicopter at 4:29pm and 4:36pm. Still no response," he said at the DCA Kuching Regional Headquarters today.

Azharuddin said, four helicopters flying nearby also tried to contact the jet, but to no avail.

At the same time, DCA also contacted Hornbill Skyways, the operator which rented the helicopter.

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“At 4:50pm, we issued the warning phase, but the feedback was still negative. Then, we issued an SAR alert at 7:26pm.

“There was no delay, because during that time we were contacting a number of people, including Hornbill Skyways. We carried out our duty to contact the various parties responsible," he said.

Azharuddin at the same time urged the public not to make any speculations especially on the cause of the accident, adding that the DCA will issue a report after investigating the matter.