Senator gesa gantung helikopter BO-105

A senator has urged the immediate grounding of all BO-105 service helicopters involved in a tragic incident off the Long Lellang STOL port in Sarawak yesterday. Senator RA Lingeshwaran called for this measure to safeguard the lives of doctors, nurses, Ministry of Health staff, pilots, and the public residing in remote areas reliant on such services.

While the PDU operations are carried out by private companies under government contracts, the government cannot absolve itself of responsibility. The minister emphasized the obligation for the government to ensure that any contracted contractor employs aircraft adhering to the highest safety and flight standards.

A PDU BO-105 helicopter en route from Miri Airport to Long Lellang crashed near the Long Lellang STOL port in the evening yesterday, resulting in the deaths of four Ministry of Health staff and one pilot. Lingeshwaran stated that if the investigation finds that age, maintenance records, or aircraft condition contributed to the incident, the government must take decisive action against the implicated company.

Based on the aircraft records, the registration number 9M-LLF, built in Germany in 1991, is not a new aircraft. Lingeshwaran noted that this helicopter, identified by serial S-867, had previously operated under registration in Germany, the United States, and South Africa before being used in Malaysia. Clearly, the BO-105 production ended in 2001, making the aircraft approximately 35 years old with over three decades of operational history.

The government must reassess the use of older helicopters and ensure that contractors replace them with more modern and suitable models. Human life cannot be valued based on contract costs or operational profits. Precautionary measures must be taken immediately without waiting for a second tragedy.