Jamaluddin Jarjis, 5 others dead in Semenyih helicopter crash
Astro Awani
April 4, 2015 01:53 MYT
April 4, 2015 01:53 MYT
Jamaluddin was on board the helicopter which was en route from Kuantan to Subang. - Fire and Rescue Department Photo
Rompin MP Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis was among the six people on board the helicopter which crashed in Jalan Sungai Lalang, Kampung Pasir Baru, Semenyih here today.
Jamaluddin, who is also the chairman of Chairman of PR1MA Corporation Malaysia, was on board the helicopter which was en route from Kuantan to Subang.
The Eurocopter AS365N2 Dauphin helicopter was carrying six people including captain Clifford William Fournier, operations assistant: Aidana Baizieva, private secretary at the Prime Minister office, Datuk Azlin Alias, Jamaluddin's bodyguard Razakan Seran and Datuk Tan Huat Seang.
Civilian helicopter crashes in Semenyih
A photo of the crashed helicopter which eyewitness claimed exploded mid-air before hitting the ground. - Photo from Fire and Rescue Deparment
Helicopter crash in Semenyih
Efforts are being made to retrieve the bodies from the crash site in a rubber estate and the operation was expected to be completed soon.
Search mission by rescue personnel has intensified at the scene. - Photo from Fire and Rescue Department
A resident, Roslan Harun claimed he saw a helicopter explode in mid-air before crashing and exploding one more time in a rubber estate, Bernama reported.
The 54-year-old security guard was at a store near the incident site said the crash took place in heavy rain.
"It exploded and shattered into pieces not far from ground, the helicopter rotor blades and tail were all over the place."
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal is seen here hugging Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis' son at the crash site in Semenyih. - Photo by Astro AWANI/Marlina Manaf
According to him, the accident scene was located about 5 km in Kampung Sungai Pening, about 13 km from this town.
"To get to the actual helicopter crash site, we have to enter 2 km into the rubber estate," he said.
At the crash site, search team from the Fire and Rescue Deparment had been mobilised and efforts to retrieve the victims' bodies have intensified.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said all six remains have been recovered and sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has initiated an investigation into this crash, he said.