Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai today said that Kyrgystan national Aidana Baizieva, among the six killed in Saturday’s helicopter tragedy , was a staff of the company which operated the chopper.

Bernama reported Liow as saying the sole female victim was not the co-pilot but working for the frim which operated the aircraft. It was previously reported that the private helicopter was operated by Cempaka Aviation Sdn Bhd on behalf on owners IGB Corporation.

Liow ( right ), who was in Bentong today, also urged all quarters not to speculate on the cause of the crash and to respect the feelings of the victims’ family members.

Aidana was identified by the Transport Ministry on Saturday night as the helicopter company’s operations assistant.

The true identity of Aidana, however, has raised question marks and speculation is rife as to why a Kyrgystan national was on board the helicopter which crashed in Semenyih on Saturday, killing six people.

Her remains were identified today by a woman, believed to be her relative, who refused to speak to the media present at the Kuala Lumpur hospital mortuary.

No need for co-pilot

An official from the Kyrgystan embassy has confirmed Aidana’s citizenship, adding that she had been in Malaysia for a year.

“Records show that she has been living in Malaysia for at least a year,” the official told mStar.

Assumptions that she was the co-pilot were denied by the Department of Civil Aviation Director-General Azharuddin Abdul Rahman yesterday as he said the aircraft needed only one pilot.

Apart from Aidana and pilot Captain Clifford William Fournier, the tragedy ( left ) also claimed the lives of Rompin MP Jamaluddin Jarjis, the Prime Minister ‘s Office chief private secretary Azlin Alias, businessman Tan Huat Seang and Jamaluddin’s bodyguard, Razakan Seran.

They group had earlier attended the wedding reception of prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s daughter in Pekan, Pahang.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Queries rise on 'mystery lady' on board copter