Miri: Police have confirmed the identities of all five victims of the Air Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash at Long Lellang yesterday, with their remains taken to Miri Hospital for post-mortem examinations and formal identification.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the victims were pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30; medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33; medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31; and nurses Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44. Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah stated that the victims were identified through personal belongings found with the remains, pieces of clothing, and their seating positions inside the helicopter.

Formal identification will be carried out at the hospital, with DNA samples from the families already taken, Mohamad Zainal told a media conference on the incident at Miri Airport. The families of all five victims have been informed of the latest developments following the tragedy.

Preliminary investigations revealed that several witnesses saw smoke and flames coming from the helicopter before it crashed. Villagers attempted to extinguish the fire using fire extinguishers available at the airport, but the victims were believed to have been unable to escape. Based on the helicopter's position, the pilot was believed to have been trying to land safely, as it was right at the end of the runway. It is speculated that when it landed, it immediately caught fire, leaving no time for escape.

The helicopter was not equipped with a cockpit voice recorder or black box, and no emergency call was made by the pilot before the crash, according to police findings. The 1991-built helicopter had last undergone maintenance on August 24 and was cleared for another 100 flight hours following the maintenance.

A sudden death report has been opened by the police, while the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting an investigation into the actual cause of the crash.