Three Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel were killed in a Nuri helicopter crash in Ba' Kelalan, Sarawak.

The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at a press conference in Kuala Berang, Terengganu.

Najib, who is also the defence minister, said the three were the helicopter's pilot, co-pilot and quartermaster.

"The others have been rescued. Those in serious condition have been airlifted to Labuan and the not so serious to Miri,'' added Najib.

Malaysiakini had earlier quoted sources as saying that all the 10 persons on board the Labuan-based helicopter have been found safe by search and rescue teams.

It is believed that the helicopter had made an emergency landing somewhere between Long Seridan and Be'Kalalan in Ulu Baram after developing some mechanical problems.

Police sources told malaysiakini that the helicopter suffered some malfunction while making the emergency landing but did not pinpoint its exact location.

The helicopter sent out distress signals which were picked up after it made the landing and when it was found it was too dark to go down to the landing site.

Earlier today, Bernama reported that the search and rescue teams have found the missing RMAF Nuri helicopter and have airlifted one of the 10 soldiers on board to the Miri Hospital.

The discovery of the helicopter which went missing yesterday was announced by the commanding officer of 20th battalion, Royal Malay Regiment Lt Kol Hamdan Hussein.

Doctors on standby

At the Miri Hospital, doctors and nurses have been put on alert to expect more casualties.

The helicopter was reported missing yesterday after the control tower in Kota Kinabalu lost contact with the aircraft at 2.30pm.

It was ferrying five members of Lt Kol Hamdan's men to Ba'Kelalan from Miri on rotation to replace their colleagues after two months' posting at a forward location at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.

The Nuri was en route to Ba'Kelalan - the same highland village that was the destination of the Hornbill Skyways Bell 206 helicopter which crashed on July 12, killing all seven on board.

Meanwhile, in Miri, Brigadier General Goh Ah Bak gave more information regarding the rescue mission.

He identified the soldier who was airlifted to Miri Hospital as private Mohd Fadzil Ahmad, 23, of 20th RAMD, based in Miri.

Mohd Fadzil, from Pendang, Kedah, suffered injury to his buttock, and is currently being treated at Miri Hospital.

He also added that as of 5.30pm, six of the victims have been flown to Labuan.

Meanwhile, malaysiakini was told that search and rescue effort was spearheaded by RMAF elite unit 'Rescue 1'.


Correction: Malaysiakini had earlier ran an inaccurate report from police sources stating that all soldiers were found safe. We apologise for the mistake.