Liow shows a photo where the SAR operation is centred on.
KUCHING: Members of the search and recovery (SAR) team yesterday found four more bodies not far from what they believed to be the site of the Thursday’s helicopter crash in Batang Lupar.
The operation was truly a daunting task for them, in that they not only had to cover a vast search area, but also face strong currents and lurking crocodiles.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said 274-member SAR team comprising personnel from multiple agencies combed 2,850km²of search area on the first day, and 875km² yesterday.
“It is a vast area for them to cover and they have to face strong currents as well. The high waves in the river can shift debris and the fuselage from one place to another,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) headquarters here yesterday.
Liow also confirmed the discovery of the second body — later identified via post mortem as belonging to Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai, the secretary-general of Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry (MPIC).
On the incident, Liow acknowledged that it had been the practice in international civil aviation for all pilots to be provided with detailed information on their flight path, but they themselves would have to assess all risks before making any decision on whether to take off or hold the flight.
“The most important factor is the weather. The route from Betong to Kuching is a common one used by many pilots.
“With all the risks advice given by the DCA, it is up to the pilots to decide on (whether) to fly or not within that region,” he said, adding there were several helicopters plying along the same route earlier on the same day of the tragedy.
On possible cause of the crash, Liow said the Air Accident Investigation Bureau would deliver a preliminary report on this within a month.
“There are many factors (one of which is) weather, but we have to look at all issues before coming to a conclusion.”
On the SAR effort, which is presently centred in Lingga, Sri Aman, Liow said no new debris had been found.
However, he said specialist divers — 24 from police and seven from the Navy —would be deployed to the focus area to search for the wreckage, in addition to the deployment of six helicopters, 15 vessels and 12 land vehicles.
The MPIC, Liowadded, would coordinate welfare-related matters involving the family of passengers, with Hornbill Skyways doing the same for the pilot’s.
“The MPIC has also activated an operations room at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board office in Kuching, where family members of the passengers can contact via 082-342875.
“Additionally, another operations room has also been activated at the MPIC in Kuala Lumpur, which can be reached via 03-88878260.”
The search for the last victim of the ill-fated Eurocopter AS350 is ongoing.
The flight took off from SMK Spaoh at 4.12pm on Thursday and was at the halfway point of the scheduled journey to Kuching when it vanished from the radar at 4.32pm.
Those on board were Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon and her husband Asmuni Abdullah, Kuala Kangsar MP and Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad, bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun and pilot Capt Rudolf Rex Ragas.
Noriah’s remains were found along BatangLupar riverbank on Friday.
The SAR team brings the fifth body to Lingga jetty. — Bernama photo
A file photo of the Eurocopter AS350, which went down in Batang Lupar on Thursday.