QUICK action by Captain Fedzrol Norazam, who alerted his friend about the crash of the helicopter he was steering, allowed the authorities to quickly launch a search and rescue operation for the victims.

Fedzrol, 43, is the pilot of the helicopter carrying five medical workers from Gua Musang, Kelantan, back to Ulu Kinta, Ipoh, which crashed in the Bukit Kinta Forest Reserve yesterday afternoon.

Perak police chief Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said based on preliminary information obtained by the police, the pilot had contacted his friend in Ipoh who then reported the incident to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

“Following that, we received information about the position of the helicopter, and the search and rescue operation for the victims, aged between 31 and 48, could be carried out immediately,” he told a press conference at the Cameron Highlands District and Land Office last night.

Also present was Cameron Highlands district officer Syed Ahmad Khirulanwar Al Yahya Syed Abdul Rahman.

Elaborating, Yusri said when the rescue team arrived at the crash site, it was found that all the victims had managed to get out of the helicopter and were in a safe location.

“Two passengers suffered serious injuries… one nurse had a fractured leg while one was injured in the knee. All the victims were taken to Hospital Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom and are receiving treatment in the emergency ward,” he said last night.

The search and rescue operation ended at 9pm after the last victim was taken to hospital, he added.

Yusri said based on the preliminary investigation, the helicopter was on its flight path when the incident occurred under bad weather conditions.

“Further investigation into this incident and work to remove the wreckage will be carried out by CAAM,” he said.

Earlier, CAAM confirmed that it had received information on the crash involving an Airbus AS 355 F2 aircraft with the registration number 9M-SSW in Cameron Highlands at 1.03pm. – Bernama, October 27, 2022.