Premier announcing a RM100,000 contribution to each family of the five helicopter crash victims

KUCHING, Sept 9 2026:Premier Abang Johari Openg announced the state government’s contribution of RM100,000 each to the families of the five victims of Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter that crashed-landed near Long Lellang, Marudi, yesterday afternoon.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg also announces that the state government will cover the education fees of children of the five victims

In addition to the contribution, the state government has also agreed to fully cover the education fees of the victims’ children who are still in school through the Sarawak Foundation.

A statement issued by the Premier’s Office said the assistance is a sign of appreciation and concern from the state government for their sacrifices of the victims who died while carrying out their duties to provide services to the people, especially those in the rural areas of Sarawak.

“The Sarawak government expresses its deepest condolences and sorrow to all family members and relatives of the victims for the loss of their loved ones,” the statement said.
The helicopter, operating an FDS service, crash-landed near the Long Lellang short takeoff and landing airport (STOLport) about 3.58pm yesterday afternoon.

A pilot and a four medical personnel died in the crash.

It was confirmed that the helicopter belonged to a company that was rented to provide air doctor services at three locations from Miri to Ba Lai, Long Siut and Long Lellang, Marudi.

Personnel from various agencies now in Long Lellang conducting investigation into yesterday's helicopter crash

MIRI, Sept 9 2026:  A total of 20 personnel from various agencies have been deployed Long Lellang, Ulu Baram today to conduct investigation into a crash of a Flying Doctor Service helicopter yesterday.

Caption: Members of the forensic team collecting evidence at the scene of the helicopter crash

They are already at the scene of the crash in Long Lellang conducting the investigation.

The team consists of 15 members of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, three personnel from Marudi District police headquarters, a representative of Layang-Layang Aerospace and a representative of Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB).

The deployment to Long Lellang using the JBPM's MI-171 (M994-04) helicopter was planned in stages, with the first flight carrying the operations team before being followed by a flight carrying the Royal Malaysian Police forensic team.

Before the deployment was carried out, an operational briefing was held at the Fire and Rescue Department’s Sarawak Regional Air Base in Miri on the flight safety, weather conditions, logistics and the implementation of operations at the incident location.

The briefing was delivered by senior fire officer II Captain Robert James and was attended by Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) and Mulu State Legislative Member (SLM) Gerawat Gala, Miri Division Resident Galong Luang, Miri District Police Chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah and Marudi District Police Chief DSP Nor Aizan Mohd Jamil.

Coordination of the investigation team was also carried out with police, firemen, Malaysia Airport Berhad and Layang-Layang Aerospace to ensure that the deployed teams and operational requirements to Long Lellang could be carried out in an orderly manner.

Caption: The spot where the helicopter had crash-landed that killed a pilot and four medical personnel

The helicopter, operating an FDS service, crashed near the Long Lellang short takeoff and landing airport (STOLport) yesterday afternoon.

A pilot and a four medical personnel were dead in the crash.

It was confirmed that the helicopter belonged to a company that was rented to provide air doctor services at three locations from Miri to Ba Lai, Long Siut and Long Lellang, Marudi.