IPOH - The wreckage of two helicopters that crashed at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Lumut Base last Tuesday has been removed from the crash site.
The operation to remove the wreckage and debris of the HOM (M503-3) and Fennec (M502-6) aircraft began at 9am and was completed at about 4.30pm today.
The process began with the removal of fragments from the Fennec aircraft (M502-6) at the swimming pool of the RMN Lumut Sports Complex, followed by the relocation of the wreckage of the HOM (M503-3) aircraft that crashed at the RMN Lumut Stadium.
RMN sources said that all the wreckage of the aircraft was placed at the RMN Lumut Base to facilitate the investigation process.
According to them, the investigation team established by RMN together with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) has been conducting investigations at the crash site since the first day of the incident.
"As stated previously, the investigation process will take time.
"The investigation team wants the aircraft wreckage to be kept at the base to facilitate examination because based on the findings of the investigation later, there may be cross-checks or simulations that need to be carried out on the aircraft," they said.
Media reports yesterday stated that the interim report on the crash of the two RMN helicopters, which claimed 10 officers and members, would be completed within 14 working days, while the full report would be completed within 30 days.
In the 9.32am incident on Tuesday, two helicopters, namely the HOM (M503-3) aircraft carrying four crew members and three passengers and the Fennec aircraft carrying three crew members, crashed after colliding in the air at the RMN Lumut Base.
The incident claimed the lives of all the victims onboard who were participating in the parade for the 90th RMN Day celebration.
All the crew members who perished in the accident have been laid to rest, with the final rites for Lieutenant T Sivasutan, 31, being conducted at the Manjung Hindu Sabha Sanathana Dharma Ashram Crematorium Centre in Sitiawan at 12.15pm on Thursday.