On April 23, 2024, a tragic accident occurred in Lumut, Malaysia when two navy helicopters collided during a military parade rehearsal. The incident resulted in the death of all 10 crew members on board. One of the helicopters clipped the rotor of the other, causing them to crash into the ground.
The HOM M503-3 and Fennec M502-6 were both involved in the accident. The HOM M503-3 crashed onto a running track with seven crew members on board, 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 the incident. The Perak Fire and Rescue Department responded to the incident after being alerted at 09:50 local time.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and offered prayers for strength to cope with this tragedy. This unfortunate event comes after a recent helicopter crash involving the Malaysian coast guard in March where all passengers were rescued by fishermen after the helicopter crashed into sea near Angsa Island during training flight.