Helicopter missing after taking off from Subang Airport, SAR activated

IPOH - An Eurocopter EC120B helicopter was confirmed to have lost contact after taking off from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, this afternoon.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said the matter was informed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAM), which explained that the helicopter with one pilot in command onboard should have landed at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, Ipoh at 12.37pm after it initially took off at 11.37am.

Wee said the helicopter, which was owned by a private company, was feared missing at 12.16pm by the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (KLTAAC) at a location near Bidor, Perak.

"CAAM will issue further statements regarding this incident and search and rescue (SAR) operations have been activated at the identified locations.

"We are doing our best to carry out the search, the important thing is that we get the cooperation of the police and the relevant agencies to help find the helicopter," he told reporters when met at Ipoh KTM Station, here on Sunday.

Meanwhile, CAAM Chief Executive Officer Datuk Chester Voo said the radar system in KLTAAC recorded a sharp loss of altitude of the helicopter.

“The on-duty air traffic control officer tried to make contact with the pilot.

“However, there was no distress call made.

“Review from the radar readings indicated a large loss of altitude in less than one minute,” he said in a statement.

He further said that Kuala Lumpur Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (KLARCC) in KLATCC was immediately activated to determine the location of the helicopter.

“Helicopters of the Royal Malaysian Air Force and police are currently at the last known location to conduct the SAR efforts,” he added.