Search for AS350 helicopter wreckage continues - DCA

The search for the doomed AS350 helicopter's wreckage in Batang Lupar, Sarawak will go on to facilitate investigations into the cause of the tragedy on Thursday, said Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Director-General Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman.

The search and recovery mission was led by the DCA, together with the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau and the Transport Ministry, he said.

He also said the mission was assisted by various agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defense Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Marine police, the Royal Malaysian Navy, Sarawak Rivers Board and other agencies.

"The DCA will inform any development on the search and recovery operation from time to time," he said in a statement Thursday.

On May 5, a helicopter carrying five passengers and a pilot was reported missing at 4.12pm shortly after taking off from Betong to Kuching.

Those killed in the crash were Plantation Industries and Commodities deputy minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon, her husband Bustomi Abdullah; Noriah's bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Aaron; Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad; the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai and Filipino pilot, Captain Rudolf Rex Ragas.

Azharuddin said the search and rescue operation was officially ended following the discovery of the last bodies on May 10.

"The search for the wreckage continues. We need to investigate the cause of the crash to avoid such incidents in the future," he said.