PDRM helicopter 9M-PHG's key role in Lahad Datu before crash
Since news of its crash in Sungai Pulai during a nuclear detection training exercise last Thursday, many have recalled their experiences with the aircraft, whether flying in it or witnessing its role in various operations.
Police Air Operation Force (PGU) commander Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani described the 28-year-old aircraft as 'small but mighty', highlighting its key contribution during the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu militants in Kampung Tanduo, Sabah.
Noor Sham, who has logged nearly 7,000 flight hours on the AS355N, said he flew 9M-PHG to evacuate injured General Operations Force (PGA) personnel to hospitals in Sandakan and Lahad Datu during the armed standoff.
'From day one of the incident, three AS355N helicopters, including 9M-PHG, and their crews were stationed in Lahad Datu for nearly three weeks before the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft arrived,' he told Bernama.
The helicopter was involved in an accident at 10.15 am on Thursday during the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025 at the Gelang Patah Maritime Jetty. The exercise involved Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), the helicopter had departed from the Tanjung Kupang police station at 9.51 am with five people on board, including the pilot.
Noor Sham said 9M-PHG had just participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA '25) and was one of the most frequently deployed aircraft for humanitarian missions, including disaster relief, flood evacuations, as well as traffic and crime surveillance.
The aircraft also supported major national operations, such as aerial surveillance during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in April and during the enforcement of the COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO).
'Its compact size made it ideal for command-and-control tasks. We often used it for initial reconnaissance because of its ability to manoeuvre in tight areas, before deploying larger aircraft like the AW139 if needed,' he explained.
In Johor, 9M-PHG was used to airlift three pregnant women, aged 22 to 33, from flood-isolated Orang Asli villages in Kahang, Kluang, to the hospital.
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New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Police helicopter wreckage expected to be recovered within days
JOHOR BARU: The wreckage of the police-owned AS355N helicopter that crashed in Sungai Pulai, Gelang Patah, on Thursday is expected to be recovered from the water tomorrow or the day after. Internal Security and Public Order Department's Air Operations Force Commander Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani said the operation would be carried out with the assistance of the navy or the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). "We expect the wreckage to be lifted soon with help from either the navy or the maritime agency. "This is so that the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) can conduct further investigation into the incident. "God willing, the aircraft will be raised either tomorrow or the day after for the necessary procedures," he told reporters today after visiting the five crew members currently receiving treatment at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here. The AS355N police helicopter crashed near the Malaysian Maritime jetty in Gelang Patah during a fly-past demonstration as part of the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025 involving Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), in a statement, said the helicopter, bearing registration number 9M-PHG, took off from the Tanjung Kupang police station at 9.51am with five people onboard, including the pilot. Noor Sham also confirmed that the aircraft's voice recorder remains within the submerged wreckage. He said the device contains vital recordings of communication between the helicopter and ground personnel. "That's what we want to review, namely the communication that took place and how the incident unfolded," he added.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Police helicopter 9M-PHG played key role in Lahad Datu, major operations before crash
JOHOR BARU: The police AS355N helicopter bearing registration number 9M-PHG, which recently crashed in Gelang Patah, is being remembered for its extensive service in critical and humanitarian missions. Since news of its crash in Sungai Pulai during a nuclear detection training exercise last Thursday, many have recalled their experiences with the aircraft, whether flying in it or witnessing its role in various operations. Police Air Operation Force commander Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani described the 28-year-old aircraft as 'small but mighty', highlighting its key contribution during the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu militants in Kampung Tanduo, Sabah. Noor Sham, who has logged nearly 7,000 flight hours on the AS355N, said he flew 9M-PHG to evacuate injured General Operations Force (GOF) personnel to hospitals in Sandakan and Lahad Datu during the armed standoff. "From day one of the incident, three AS355N helicopters, including 9M-PHG, and their crews were stationed in Lahad Datu for nearly three weeks before the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft arrived," he told Bernama. The helicopter was involved in an accident at 10.15am on Thursday during the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025 at the Gelang Patah Maritime Jetty. The exercise involved Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said the helicopter had departed from the Tanjung Kupang police station at 9.51am with five people on board, including the pilot. Noor Sham said 9M-PHG had just participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (Lima '25) and was one of the most frequently deployed aircraft for humanitarian missions, including disaster relief, flood evacuations, as well as traffic and crime surveillance. The aircraft also supported major national operations, such as aerial surveillance during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in April and during the enforcement of the Covid-19 Movement Control Order (MCO). "Its compact size made it ideal for command-and-control tasks. "We often used it for initial reconnaissance because of its ability to manoeuvre in tight areas, before deploying larger aircraft like the AW139 if needed," he said. In Johor, 9M-PHG was used to airlift three pregnant women, aged 22 to 33, from flood-isolated Orang Asli villages in Kahang, Kluang, to the hospital. Police force currently operates five AS355N helicopters, with two of them in Sabah, one in Sarawak and two in Peninsular Malaysia, including 9M-PHG. – Bernama
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
PDRM helicopter 9M-PHG's key role in Lahad Datu before crash
JOHOR BAHRU: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) AS355N helicopter bearing registration number 9M-PHG, which recently crashed in Gelang Patah, is being remembered for its extensive service in critical and humanitarian missions. Since news of its crash in Sungai Pulai during a nuclear detection training exercise last Thursday, many have recalled their experiences with the aircraft, whether flying in it or witnessing its role in various operations. Police Air Operation Force (PGU) commander Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani described the 28-year-old aircraft as 'small but mighty', highlighting its key contribution during the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu militants in Kampung Tanduo, Sabah. Noor Sham, who has logged nearly 7,000 flight hours on the AS355N, said he flew 9M-PHG to evacuate injured General Operations Force (PGA) personnel to hospitals in Sandakan and Lahad Datu during the armed standoff. 'From day one of the incident, three AS355N helicopters, including 9M-PHG, and their crews were stationed in Lahad Datu for nearly three weeks before the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft arrived,' he told Bernama. The helicopter was involved in an accident at 10.15 am on Thursday during the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025 at the Gelang Patah Maritime Jetty. The exercise involved Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), the helicopter had departed from the Tanjung Kupang police station at 9.51 am with five people on board, including the pilot. Noor Sham said 9M-PHG had just participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA '25) and was one of the most frequently deployed aircraft for humanitarian missions, including disaster relief, flood evacuations, as well as traffic and crime surveillance. The aircraft also supported major national operations, such as aerial surveillance during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in April and during the enforcement of the COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO). 'Its compact size made it ideal for command-and-control tasks. We often used it for initial reconnaissance because of its ability to manoeuvre in tight areas, before deploying larger aircraft like the AW139 if needed,' he explained. In Johor, 9M-PHG was used to airlift three pregnant women, aged 22 to 33, from flood-isolated Orang Asli villages in Kahang, Kluang, to the hospital.
