New Delhi: Two Malaysian navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a rehearsal for a naval parade on Tuesday, killing all 10 crew members aboard, the navy said in a statement. The incident occurred at the Lumut naval base in the western state of Perak at 9:32 a.m. local time, the navy said, CNN reported.
“All victims were confirmed dead at the scene and sent to the Lumut Naval Base military hospital for identification,” the navy said.
Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the aircraft, a maritime operations helicopter and a Fennec military chopper were rehearsing for a parade celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Royal Malaysian Navy, due to be held on Saturday.
Efforts were underway to verify the identities of the crew members killed, all of whom were below the age of 40, he told reporters.
