Kuching: A BO-105 helicopter carrying five people, including the pilot, crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) airport, about 929 kilometres north of Kuching, today. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of aviation operations in the region.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) reported receiving notification of the incident from the Flight Information Service at 3.58 pm. The helicopter was on a Flying Doctor Service mission, which typically involves transporting medical personnel and supplies to remote areas, when the crash occurred. The flight had five people on board, including the pilot, as confirmed by CAAM in their statement.

The CAAM did not disclose any details regarding potential casualties or injuries in its statement. The focus is now on the investigation process, which will be carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry. The investigation will be conducted in accordance with Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016, as mentioned in the CAAM statement.