AAIB flags firefighting gaps at Sarawak airstrip after crash killed five

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — The Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has urged the operator of Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Port (STOLport) in Miri, Sarawak, to review its rescue and firefighting arrangements after a helicopter crash killed five people, including four Health Ministry personnel, on September 8.

The AAIB recommended that aerodrome operator Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB) review rescue and firefighting arrangements across its STOLports to ensure auxiliary personnel were properly trained and equipped, and that firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) were properly maintained and serviceable.

The bureau said the recommendation followed findings that Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department (Rela) personnel assigned to auxiliary rescue and firefighting duties had responded to the blaze without appropriate firefighting PPE.

“Some of the available PPE exhibited visible signs of deterioration and damage, which could adversely affect the safety and effectiveness of the emergency response,” the AAIB said in its preliminary report.

The report said 12 dry powder fire extinguishers at the STOLport terminal were used by responders and local villagers in an attempt to put out the flames, but the fire continued to burn for several hours.

All five occupants on board – a 30-year-old Malaysian pilot and four Health Ministry personnel – died from severe burn injuries, according to post-mortem findings cited in the report.

The Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BO105 S helicopter, registered as 9M-LLF and operated by Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd under the callsign MEDIC3, was conducting a scheduled Flying Doctor Service flight.

The aircraft is designed for various operations, including passenger transport, utility work, medical evacuation and other specialised missions, with a maximum take-off mass of about 2,500kg, depending on its configuration.

The report said a 37-second ground-based video captured the helicopter’s final moments, showing it in flight with a visible smoke trail and apparent flames behind the main gearbox as it approached Runway 04.

The helicopter came to rest about 25 metres from the runway threshold and was destroyed by fire.

All communication frequencies were operating normally, and no emergency call or distress transmission from the helicopter was recorded between departure and the crash, the report said.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department found that weather conditions near Long Lellang STOLport were generally good, with horizontal visibility exceeding 10km during the period assessed.

As an immediate safety measure, Layang-Layang Aerospace suspended operations of aircraft fitted with the same engine type pending airworthiness verification.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia cleared the affected aircraft to return to service on September 13 after technical reviews, the report said.

A detailed examination of the wreckage will be conducted to establish the nature and extent of the damage and, where possible, the sequence and development of the fire and ground-contact damage. The findings will be included in the final report.

The Transport Ministry said information in the preliminary report could be revised as additional evidence emerged, while a comprehensive analysis and the investigation’s conclusions would be presented in the final report.

The ministry said the investigation was intended to prevent similar accidents from recurring, rather than determine fault or liability.

“The ministry appreciates the efforts of the AAIB and the cooperation of all parties involved in assisting the investigation, and remains committed to strengthening the country’s aviation safety,” it said. — Bernama

* Editor’s note: Rela stands for Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia, or the Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department in English.