KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Ten members of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) were confirmed dead in an incident where two helicopters collided and crashed at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Lumut, Perak on Tuesday morning.

The Strategic Communications Branch of the Naval headquarters in a statement said the incident at 9.32am involved 10 crew members comprising seven crews of the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and three RMN Fennec crews.

"All the victims were confirmed dead at the scene and sent to the Lumut RMN Base Military Hospital for the identification process," according to the statement here.

The statement said RMN will establish an investigation board to identify the cause of the incident.

Besides, RMN also requested the public not to transmit the video of the incident in order to protect the sensitivity of the families and the investigation process.

Earlier, a video went viral on social media showing a helicopter hitting the back of another helicopter before both aircraft crashed.

It is understood that the incident occurred during the flypass practice for RMN’s 90th anniversary celebration scheduled for early next month.

King orders thorough investigation

Meanwhile, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia has expressed his sadness and conveyed his condolences to the families of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) helicopter crash victims in Lumut on Tuesday morning.

In a Facebook post, Sultan Ibrahim ordered the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to conduct a thorough investigation to get full information on the incident.

"I and Raja Zarith are deeply saddened by the loss of our nation's heroes in this tragedy. Al-Fatihah and our heartfelt condolences over their departure.

“May they be placed among the believers and martyrs,” His Majesty said.

RMN said all 10 personnel on board were killed after two helicopters collided and crashed at the Lumut base at 9.32 am. There were seven crew members on the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and three on the Fennec helicopter.

It is learnt that the helicopters were making a fly-past when rehearsing for a parade to be held in conjunction with the 90th RMN anniversary early next month.