Sungai Pulai Helicopter Wreckage Removal Expected To Begin Tomorrow

ISKANDAR PUTERI, July 16 (Bernama) -- The operation to hoist the wreckage of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) helicopter that crashed into Sungai Pulai, Gelang Patah, is expected to begin at 8 am tomorrow, following a multi-agency coordination meeting today.

The meeting was co-chaired by Johor Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA) chief SAC Muhd Zailani Abdullah and Subang Air Operations Force (PGU) deputy commander (Operations) SAC Ahmad Lokman Abdul Hadi, and was attended by 25 officers from various relevant agencies.

The agencies are the Putrajaya Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BSKU), Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Johor Region Two Marine Police, Johor Port Authority, Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Ministry of Health (MOH), and Iskandar Puteri Police headquarters.

An integrated operations command centre has also been set up near the crash site as the main control centre to coordinate daily tasks, including rescue, safety, and medical operations.

A check by Bernama at the site found that, following the meeting, Muhd Zailani and Ahmad Lokman inspected the location of the helicopter wreckage by boat to assess technical requirements and safety aspects ahead of the hoisting operation.

Several RMN diving team members are expected to conduct dives to examine the condition of the wreckage as an initial step before the hoisting operation, as well as to inspect their diving equipment.

An ambulance was also on standby at the site for any rescue task.

In the 10.15 am incident on Thursday, an AS355N helicopter belonging to the PDRM was involved in an accident during a flypast demonstration as part of the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025, which involved four countries - Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore.

All five crew members were successfully rescued by the Marine Police.

-- BERNAMA