Helicopter tragedy: SAR Day 2 roundup

After the second day of search and rescue (SAR) operations for the missing Eurocopter AS350 helicopter ended today, it has been confirmed that Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon was one of the six victims involved.

Noriah, 52, who is also Sungai Besar MP, was on board the chopper en route from Betong to Kuching on Thursday, whose last contact with the air traffic control was at 4.15pm, three minutes after the aircraft was airborne.

Travelling with her were her husband Asmuni Abdullah, her bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad who is also Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman, Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai and Filipino pilot Rudolf Rex Ragas.

The declaration of emergency by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and activation of search and rescue operation was made at 7.26pm last night and continued at 6am on Friday.

PHOTOS: Sarawak helicopter crash

A 30-strong team from Sarawak Fire and Rescue's Special Tactical Operation Rescue Malaysia (Storm) unit was despatched to Sebuyau, about 200km from Kuching.

Also, a special team made up of rescue personnel from various agencies, including the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Army, led by the Royal Malaysian Police was activated to find the helicopter, which bore the registration RP-C6828.

At 9.50am today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told a press conference in Kuching, the SAR team found debris of a helicopter believed to be from the missing chopper next to the Batang Lupar river.

Later, Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department director Nor Hisham Mohamad announced the finding of a woman's remains near the banks of Batang Lupar river at noon.

Following that, Nor Hisham said the search for other crash victims has been narrowed to between Sungai Merah and Lingga.

Subsequently, Sarawak Zone II Fire and Rescue Department chief Azman Julaihi, who is heading the department's SAR operation, said the search has been extended to between 50km and 100km from Sungai Batang Lupar to Lingga.

He told Bernama that the location of the tragedy is believed to be around an area where Noriah's body was found.

Noriah's remains were brought to the Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching whereby her family members, as well as those of the other victims, have also been taken there.

Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrived at the hospital later. Also present was Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Noriah’s remains was brought home from Kuching the same day. Escorting the remains were her children.

The deputy minister was laid to rest at the Kampung Parit 2 Muslim Cemetery near her home in Sungai Burong, Tanjung Karang in Kuala Selangor, in the small hours of Saturday.