Two Malaysian Navy Helicopters Crash, Resulting In 10 Fatalities

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, tragedy struck during a practice session for a Royal Malaysian Navy event. Two helicopters collided and crashed mid-air at the Lumut naval base in Perak, Malaysia, claiming the lives of ten crew members. The accident involved an AW139 maritime operation helicopter with seven crew members and a Fennec lightweight helicopter with three crew members.

The AW139 crashed at a sports complex within the naval base, while the Fennec landed in a nearby swimming pool. All victims were confirmed deceased at the scene and taken to the Lumut army base hospital for identification.

The Royal Malaysian Navy announced plans to conduct a thorough Air Crash Investigation into the Helicopter Crash incident to determine its cause. The AW139 is manufactured by AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of the Italian company Leonardo, while the Fennec is made by Airbus, a European multinational defence conglomerate.