Elmina aircraft crash tragedy classified as SDR - Police

SHAH ALAM - Police have classified investigations of the tragic aircraft crash in Elmina, Seksyen U16 as a sudden death report (SDR) case.

Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said police were awaiting the investigation report by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

“The investigation of the incident is still under AAIB and it is still ongoing due to several factors.

“The investigations done by police involved the deaths, identifying victims’ bodies and managing the handover of the bodies to the victims’ families as well as to see if any criminal elements are involved. The case is still classified as an SDR,” he said in a press conference at the Selangor Contingent Police Headquarters, here on Tuesday.

He said the wreckage and debris needed for the aviation experts’ investigation have been completely removed from the crash site.

“There is no issues involving the area, its a public area that can be visited as usual, there’s no control over it like how it was previously,” he said.

Hussein said any speculations on the incident should not be brought up as it would possibly disturb the emotions of families involved.

“There are speculations regarding a potential criminal motif and such, this matter should not happen as it would affect the victims’ families," he said

It was reported on Monday, that the police would take over investigations of the incident if there were criminal elements of foul-pay involved.

Hussein said this would olnly happen if the AAIB informs that there were such elements involved as they are responsible in investigating the cause of the crash.

“If they saw or feel that they are (questionable) matters, AAIB will inform us and the police would take over.

“Currently it’s all under AAIB. Police investigations are completed. We have recorded (statements) from the public, a portion of the (police) investigation could be used by the AAIB,” he said.

Hussein confirmed that no other individuals were involved other than the 10 victims including the Pahang Local Government, Housing, Environment, Green Technologies Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun.

Others onboard the aircraft were pilot Shahrul Kamal Roslan, 41, and the co-pilot Heikal Aras Abdul Azim, 45, as well as five passengers that were Muhammad Taufik Mohd Zaki, 37, Khairil Azwan Jamaludin, 43, Shaharul Amir Omar, 49, Mohammad Naim Fawwas Mohamed Muaidi, 35, and Idris Abdul Talib @ Ramali, 41.

Two others were civilians which were p-hailing rider Muhammad Hafiz Muhammad Salleh and e-hailing driver Sharipudin Shaari, 51, who happened to be passing by the scene.