Malaysia Police Helicopter Crashes During Nuclear Drill, Five Injured
Two officers critical after AS355N plunges into Sungai Pulai.
A Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Airbus AS355N helicopter crashed into Sungai Pulai near the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) jetty in Gelang Patah, Johor, on Thursday morning during a ceremonial flypast for the Mitsatom 2025 nuclear security exercise. The incident, involving Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, left all five officers on board injured, with two in critical condition requiring respiratory support.
The helicopter, registered 9M-PHG, departed Tanjung Kupang Police Station at 9:51 AM and crashed at 10:37 AM, just 21 meters from the jetty. Marine Police swiftly rescued the crew, including pilot ACP Faizul Mohammad, co-pilot Supt Ahmad Bustamin Baharom, and officers Corporal Adeline Liu Yan Siu, Sergeant Siti Latipa Khairuddin, and Constable RG Devendran, who were rushed to Sultanah Aminah Hospital.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) is investigating via its Air Accident Investigation Bureau, focusing on recovering the black box from the 7-meter-deep riverbed. Inspector-General Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail dismissed claims of the 1996-model helicopter’s age as the cause, emphasizing maintenance over obsolescence.
Tenders to replace five AS355N helicopters were issued in November 2024. The crash disrupted the multinational drill, prompting a review of PDRM’s aging fleet.
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