Sarawak: The status of five people aboard a helicopter that crashed near the end of the runway at Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) Airport remains unknown, with haze and the remote location hampering search and rescue (SAR) efforts.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah stated that initial information indicated the privately owned helicopter had been chartered for Flying Doctor Service operations, covering three locations from Miri to Ba Lai, Long Siut, and Long Lellang. An incident report was received at 3.32 pm, and the search and rescue operation is ongoing, as the site is remote and takes approximately 10 hours to reach by road from Marudi.

Air support using a helicopter from the Kuching Royal Malaysia Police Air Wing Base could not be executed due to the hazy conditions and because the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) did not grant flight clearance. The SAR operation is currently relying on assistance from villagers, Malaysian Volunteer Corps (RELA) personnel, and auxiliary police at the Long Lellang STOL airport, while security personnel are on their way to the site.

The identities and details of all five people on board the helicopter are yet to be confirmed. Commissioner Mohamad Zainal also advised against public speculation to allow further investigations to be conducted with the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry.

Earlier, CAAM confirmed that a BO-105 helicopter bearing registration 9M-LLF and carrying five people, including the pilot, had crashed near Long Lellang STOL airport, approximately 929 kilometres from Kuching. The helicopter was operating a Flying Doctor Service flight at the time of the incident.