Two military helicopters collided during rehearsals for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 90th anniversary parade, according to Malay Post reports. The incident involved a medium multi‑purpose helicopter, an AgustaWestland AW139, and a light helicopter, a Eurocopter Fennec. One helicopter reportedly crashed at the entrance to the Lumut airbase stadium, while the other was said to have gone down inside the airbase’s sports complex swimming pool. Credit: Malay Post.
Early information suggests there may have been as many as ten people on board the two aircraft. Initial data indicates that there were no survivors from either crew, as reported by the outlets covering the event. Credit: Malay Post.
In a separate note, reports reference a prior incident in Japan where two military helicopters collapsed during a collision between combat vehicles. The Japanese helicopters involved were SH60K models operated by Mitsubishi, reportedly engaged in submarine detection exercises over the Pacific Ocean at night. The control tower reportedly lost contact with the aircraft at 22:38 and 23:04 local time, with a distress signal coming from one crew member at 22:39. Both helicopters carried four crew members, and the depth of the crash site, estimated at more than 5.5 kilometers, created significant rescue challenges. Credit: Malay Post.
Earlier statements from Japanese media described chaotic and low flying helicopter crashes, underscoring a pattern that sometimes arises during high‑risk training or operational exercises. Credit: Malay Post.
These events collectively highlight the dangers that can accompany military flight operations and the ongoing efforts to enhance safety protocols during rehearsals, training missions, and coastal maneuvers. Investigations typically examine flight paths, weather conditions, mechanical performance, and crew decisions to determine contributing factors and to guide future preventive measures. Credit: Malay Post.