Subang airport runway reopens after helicopter fire, eight flights diverted

A Ukrainian-registered helicopter caught fire and exploded at a maintenance facility at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Malaysia today. The incident, which occurred at around 12:28pm, injured one Ukrainian crew member and left the aircraft completely destroyed. The four Ukrainian nationals on board included a pilot, co-pilot, and two other crew members. One crew member was reportedly not injured as he was outside the helicopter when the explosion happened.

The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department was alerted at 12:30pm, and they dispatched five personnel along with a fire engine to the scene, which is about three kilometers away. Upon arrival at 12:34pm, they found the helicopter completely engulfed in flames. Firefighting efforts were initially led by the Airport Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS), with assistance from personnel at the Karbon MRO facility at Subang Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed the aircraft was a Kamov Ka-32S helicopter registered in Ukraine, denoted as UR-CIT. The testing incident took place while the helicopter was undergoing ground engine operation testing as part of maintenance activities.

As a result of the incident, the airport runway was closed temporarily, causing all arriving and departing flights to be suspended. The runway reopened at 2:57pm, but eight incoming flights were diverted to other airports, while three departing flights were held during the disruption. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is now investigating the incident under the Transport Ministry's supervision.