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Wednesday December 15, 2010

Trainee dies in copter crash

By SYLVIA LOOI
sylvia@thestar.com.my

MALIM NAWAR: A trainee pilot from the Police Air Unit was killed after the helicopter crashed during his solo flight in a training session at Liangkee Estate in Kampung Sri Malim here. Insp Mohd Sukri Osman, 31, died on the spot in the 3pm incident yesterday.

The deceased was part of an eight-member team, undergoing “forced landing” training given by a private operator. The team began their training in September and would have completed their stint by March.

Insp Mohd Sukri had begun his flight at 2.15pm. It was his fifth solo flight and he had chalked up 35 flying hours previously. An eye-witness, who only wished to be identified as Lau, said he had seen the helicopter flying at low altitude and thought it was an unusual move.



Charred: The remains of the helicopter found at the site after the crash at Liangkee Estate, Kampung Sri Malim in Malim Nawar, Perak yesterday.

He was then shocked to hear a crash followed by a loud explosion shortly after that. “I did not hear shouts for help coming from the helicopter,” he said.

State acting police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zakaria Yusof said the police would leave it to the Department of Civil Aviation to investigate the cause of the crash.

Insp Mohd Sukri, who hails from Permatang Tok Lam in Seberang Perai, left behind a wife and a child. His remains were sent to the Kampar Hospital.

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Thursday December 16, 2010

Full report on copter crash in six months

IPOH: A complete report on the helicopter crash that killed a trainee pilot in Kampar will be ready in six months. Civil Aviation Department director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said it was investigating the crash and declined to reveal initial findings.

“We have yet to establish anything,” he said, adding that a preliminary report would be ready in a week. “That report will be submitted to the Transport Ministry,” he said here yesterday. Earlier, investigation officers from the department visited the crash site at Liangkee Estate in Kampung Sri Malim, Kampar.

In the 3pm incident on Tuesday, Insp Mohd Sukri Osman, 31, was killed on the spot when the helicopter he was in crashed at the estate. Insp Mohd Sukri, a trainee pilot from the Police Air Unit, had been undergoing a solo training when the tragedy occurred.

Integrated Training and Services director Lt-Kol (Rtd) Khairudin Dahlan, who was present during the visit, said Insp Mohd Sukri had failed to communicate with the control tower prior to the crash. Kol Khairudin said the training centre had been using Robinson-44 helicopters since 2004.

Kampar OCPD Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh said Insp Mohd Sukri’s family claimed the body at about 2am yesterday. He said a post-mortem report showed that the officer had suffered 90% burns to his body.