All Four Crew Members On Board Fatally Injured In The Accident In Ras Al Khaimah

A rescue helicopter went down at around 5:50 p.m. local time on Saturday in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), fatally injuring all four rescue personnel onboard.

The Agusta 139 helicopter was on a rescue mission in the Jebel Jais area to airlift an injured man when it hit the world’s longest zip line that resulted in the accident before picking up the patient.

The National Search and Rescue Center said the fatally injured pilots were Saqr Saeed Mohamed Abdullah Al Yamahi and Hameed Mohamed Obaid Al Zaabi. It added that navigator Jasim Abdullah Ali Tunaiji and first aid medic Mark Roxburgh too died in the accident.

Video capture by eyewitnesses showed the helicopter diving into a tailspin before impacting the mountain and bursting into flames.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, has ordered an immediate investigation into the crash of the rescue helicopter. The ruler has also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the safety and security arrangements and measures followed in the incident venue to identify the cause behind the accident.

The world’s longest zip line opened in RAK in February starting 5,500 feet above sea level on top of Jebel Jais mountain where riders can reach speeds of up to 90 miles per hour during the nearly-two-mile ride spanning the gorge.

(Image from eyewitness video)

FMI: wam.ae/en