Ten Malaysian navy personnel lost their lives on Tuesday when two helicopters involved in a training exercise collided mid-air. The tragic incident occurred around 9:32 am local time near the Lumut naval base in Perak, according to a statement issued by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
The statement confirmed that all ten individuals aboard the helicopters were pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the crash site, but there were no survivors.
The cause of the mid-air collision remains under investigation by the RMN. The military branch expressed its deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased service members and pledged a comprehensive investigation aimed at preventing similar accidents from happening again.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released, pending notification of their next-of-kin. The RMN has also not disclosed the specific type of helicopters involved in the accident.
This incident is a serious blow to the Malaysian navy and highlights the inherent risks associated with military aviation training. Malaysian officials are likely to face intense scrutiny in the coming days and weeks as the investigation into the cause of the crash unfolds.