KUALA LUMPUR, April 6, 2015:
The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) delayed the delivery of the black box of the helicopter that crashed in Semenyih due to Easter holidays in the United Kingdom.
DCA director Datuk Yahya Abdul Rahman said the black box was supposed to be sent to the UK’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) this afternoon but could not be done because of the public holidays.
“We were just informed of the holidays and if the black box were to be sent today it will still not be analysed.
“We have to wait a few days and the possibility is that in a day or two, we will go there to deliver the black box,” he said when contacted by The Rakyat Post.
He said through the black box analysis, the cause of the AS3655N2 Dauphin (9M-1GB) helicopter crash could be ascertained.Meanwhile, the Semenyih Search and Rescue team is expected to conclude the removal of the helicopter wreckage within two to three days.
Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ismail Bakar said the investigation into the ill-fated crash would be conducted at the Sungai Besi Royal Malaysian Police Air Unit’s hangar bay.
“We require time to remove the wreckage as some parts are large and require different methods of removal,” Ismail told reporters here today.
Adding that the heavier components of the helicopter may be lifted by air, Ismail said this was because the area is hilly lacking in roads.
“We will be removing the wreckage in stages and whatever that can be removed today, will be removed,” he said, declining to comment on the number of components removed.
Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Datuk Abdul Samah Mat said the SAR operations would be concluded until all the necessary components had been secured.
“Until the investigation team is satisfied, only then we’ll call off the search.
“For now, it is ongoing,” Abdul Samah said.
The wreckage is set to be removed by the ministry with the assistance of the Fire and Rescue Departments from Kajang, Bangi and Semenyih and the police.
The private-owned helicopter was ferrying Rompin Member of Parliament Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis, the Prime Minister’s senior private secretary Datuk Seri Azlin Alias, Jamaluddin’s bodyguard Corporal Razkan Seran and SP Baiduri Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Tan Huat Seang when it crashed at 4.55pm on Saturday.
No one survived the crash.
The pilot, Captain Clifford William Fournier and operations assistant Aidana Baizieva also died in the fatal crash.
Earlier, it was said that the initial report on the crash was expected to be released in seven days.