Sarawak to review aviation safety measures after Long Lellang heli crash

Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin. Photo credit: Sarawak Information Department (Japen)

By DayakDaily Team

MIRI, Sept 12: The Sarawak government will engage the relevant aviation authorities to determine whether additional safety measures are needed following Tuesday’s fatal Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash at Long Lellang in Baram.

Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said any review should be undertaken professionally and based on the findings and feedback from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and other relevant authorities.

He said the State government would await the findings of the authorities before considering whether existing measures should be strengthened.

“After this, we want to obtain reports from CAAM and the relevant parties. We will study and discuss what needs to be done or added so that safety can be further enhanced,” he said when met by reporters here today.

Lee stressed that aviation operations are governed by established safety regulations and that any changes involving aircraft operations must comply with the necessary approvals and standards.

He was responding to questions arising from the crash, including public comments concerning the aircraft and whether further measures were necessary for aviation services operating in Sarawak’s interior.

Lee urged the public not to speculate on the cause of the accident and to allow CAAM and other competent authorities to conduct their investigations in accordance with aviation regulations.

He said conclusions should be based on the official investigation rather than assumptions or unverified comments.

“We should wait for the official and professional report,” he said.

Lee further said the immediate priority following the crash had been the victims and their families, with government agencies working to ensure that the recovery and subsequent procedures were handled as quickly and respectfully as possible.

He also stressed that air services such as the FDS remained essential to Sarawak because many communities in the state’s remote interior have limited access to healthcare.

He said the service had operated for a long time and remained a necessity for rural residents who would otherwise face difficulties obtaining medical services.

The helicopter crashed near the end of the Long Lellang STOLport runway, killing all five people on board, including four Health Ministry personnel.

Lee said operations at the Long Lellang airport would be subject to clearance from CAAM and the relevant airport authorities following the necessary procedures related to the crash investigation. — Bernama