There has been no confirmation yet of a mid-air explosion involving the ill-fated helicopter that crashed in Semenyih yesterday, as had been reported by some media, said Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow said the initial investigation was still ongoing, and until it had been completed, rumours about the explosion would be considered as just that.

"There has been no other information (about an explosion), comprehensive investigations are being carried out," he told reporters when met outside the house of Rompin Member of Parliament Jamaluddin Jarjis at The Mines, Seri Kembangan today.

Jamaluddin along with five others were killed in the crash.

Jamaluddin, who was also the chairman of Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia (Pr1ma), and Azlin Alias, the principal private secretary of the prime minister, and four other people were flying back from Pekan, Pahang, to Subang, Selangor, when the AS3655N2 Dauphin (9M-1GB) helicopter went down in a rubber smallholding in Semenyih.

The four others have been identified as pilot Capt Clifford William Fournier; operations assistant Aidana Baizieva; Jamaluddin's bodyguard Razakan Seran and businessman Tan Huat Seang.

No distress call

At a press conference later, Liow said the ill-fated helicopter did not make any distress call and followed the approved flight path.

He said the Air Traffic Control (ATC) did not record any conversation with the pilot and that was normal.

"It is normal (helicopter) to fly after receiving the clearance unless it

needs any requirement (to call ATC)," he said after the retrieved ill-fated helicopter's black box was handed to the ministry.  

 

"We also checked whether there was a mayday call or distress call but we can't find any," he said.

He said the aircaft's approved flight path covers a wide range of area - Kuantan,Pekan, Muadzam Shah, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Klawang, The Mines, Petaling Jaya and ends in Subang.

    

Liow (left) said the pilot of the AS3655N2 Dauphin (9M-1GB) helicopter held a valid license rated for that type of aircraft since 2012.

"He has been flying aircraft since 2002 totalling nearly 13 years of flying experience," he said.

Liow said the aircraft had a valid certificate of airworthiness under

Private Category, which was last renewed on Feb 13 this year and valid until Feb 8 next year.

Manufactured by Airbus Helicopters, formely known as Eurocopter France, the aircraft was made in 1990 and was 25 years as of April this year, he said.

The aircraft maintenance was carried out by Airbus Helicopters Malaysia Sdn Bhd and the last recorded inspection was made on Jan 29 this year, while the flight test was conducted on Feb 9.

   

"The aircraft has a clean bill of health," he said.

Liow said the ministry had set up an investigation team, headed by Yahya Abdul Rahman, a very experienced investigator with more than 20 years' experience in helicopter accident investigations.

    

The team would have four members while an accredited representative from France would also be invited as the country was the state of design and manufacturer of the aircraft and engine, he said.

    

Liow said the black box of the ill-fated aircraft that was retrieved today would be sent to the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in Farnborough, United Kingdom for a thorough analysis to determine the cause of tragedy.

"We need time to withdraw the (black box) data and also time to analyse the data," he said, adding that it might take about three days to extract the data and another week to analyse them.

    

"We are committed in finding the reasons of the accident," he said.

- Bernama

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