On April 23, 2024, at 09:30 local time in Lumut, Malaysia, a tragic incident occurred when two Malaysian navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a rehearsal for a military parade. This resulted in the death of all 10 crew members on board. The helicopters crashed into the ground after one of them clipped the rotor of the other, as shown in footage published by local media.
The HOM M503-3 and Fennec M502-6 were both involved in the accident. The HOM M503-3 crashed onto a running track while carrying seven crew members, while the Fennec M502-6 crashed into a nearby swimming pool with three crew members. Rescue personnel were on site to remove debris from the wreckage.
The Royal Malaysian Navy confirmed that all victims were deceased at the scene and their remains were sent to the Lumut Military Hospital for identification. A committee will be formed to investigate the cause of this unfortunate event. The Perak Fire and Rescue Department responded to the incident after being alerted at 09:50 local time.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim offered condolences to the families of those affected and prayers for strength to cope with this tragedy. This recent incident comes after another helicopter crash involving Malaysia’s coast guard in March where all passengers were rescued by fishermen following a crash into sea near Angsa Island during training flight.