Ten people have died following a mid-air collision between two Navy helicopters during a military rehearsal for the Royal Malaysian Navy Day celebrations next month.
Footage on local media shows one chopper clipping the rotor of the other, causing both to go into a tailspin before coming down. There are no known survivors.
“All victims were confirmed dead on site and the remains were sent to the Lumut Military Hospital for identification,” said the Royal Malaysian Navy. It added that it will investigate the cause of the incident.
Reports say one of the helicopters, with seven people on board, crashed onto a running track while the other with three passengers went down into a nearby swimming pool.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sent his condolences to the families of the victims, saying “the nation mourns the heart-wrenching and soul-wrenching tragedy”
The incident comes a month after a Malaysian Coast Guard helicopter crashed into the sea off Malaysia’s Angsa Island during a training flight.
However, the four passengers on board including the pilot were found and rescued by fishermen.