On April 23, 2024 at 09:30 local time in Lumut, Malaysia, a tragic accident occurred when two Malaysian Navy helicopters collided mid-air during a rehearsal for a military parade. The crash resulted in the death of all 10 crew members on board.
The Royal Malaysian Navy confirmed that the two helicopters involved in the accident were HOM M503-3 and Fennec M502-6. A HOM M503-3, with a crew of seven, crashed on the runway, while a Fennec M502-6, with a crew of three, fell into a nearby pool. Rescue personnel were on the scene to remove debris from the wreckage.
Local media released a video showing how one of the helicopters clipped the rotor of another during takeoff, causing them to collide mid-air and crash onto the ground. The incident took place at 9:30 am local time at Lumut Airport.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and offered prayers for strength to cope with the tragedy. This unfortunate event comes after another recent helicopter crash involving the Malaysian Coast Guard in March where all passengers were rescued by fishermen after their helicopter crashed into