S-61 Disappeared From Radar Friday During Routine Flight

The wreckage of a Royal Malaysian Air Force Sikorsky S-61 "Nuri" helicopter, which disappeared Friday during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to a military base in Pahang, was found in a deep ravine hidden in dense forest in the central state of Pahang Tuesday.

"There are no survivors," said Major Zulkiflee Abdul Latiff, spokesman for the RMAF, according to the Associated Press.

More than 1,000 search and rescue personnel conducted aerial and ground searches for five days, often hindered by thick fog, thick jungle, wind and rain.

The search is said to have been the largest the country has seen in recent years and involved several different agencies and authorities as well as more than 15 various aircraft including a Sea Hawk helicopter from the U.S. Navy and a helicopter belonging to the Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, according to the Malaysian National News Agency.

Those on board were identified as pilot Kapt Nor Azlan Termuzi, co-pilot Kapt Nor Intan Asykeen Mohd Arof, Air Quartermaster Sgt Khusnizam Ariffin, Sgt Azmie Md Yassin, Senior Airman Saifulizam Alias and Airman Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Najib Razak said authorities were still investigating the accident and there are no current plans to ground similar aircraft in the RMAF fleet.

"We believe that bad weather was a major contributing factor behind the incident," he told reporters. "The air force is very concerned about safety, but there were other factors that contributed to the accident."

FMI: http://maf.mod.gov.my/homepage/tudm/