Two Bodies Still Trapped In Nuri Cockpit

KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Bernama) -- The bodies of two of the victims in the Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) Nuri crash are still trapped in the cockpit of the helicopter at the crash site at Genting Sempah near Genting Highlands.

RMAF Chief General Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin said the bodies were those of the pilot and the co-pilot while the bodies of four others had been retrieved.

"Efforts are being made to retrive the bodies of the two pilots," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) here.

So far, three bodies had arrived at the hospital and two of them had been brought out of the HKL's Forensic Department in two separate hearses at 4.45pm and 5.04pm, respectively. They were then seen heading towards the Sungai Besi RMAF base.

All the six crew members in the helicopter were killed in the crash. The wreckage of the ill-fated helicopter was found about noon, 5km North-West of Genting Sempah yesterday, after a five-day search.

Those killed were pilot Capt Nor Azlan Termuzi, 29; co-pilot Capt Nor Intan Asykeen Mohd Arof, 27; Sgt Khusnizam Ariffin (air quartermaster), 34; Sgt Mohd Azmie Md Yassin, 35; Senior Airman Saifulizam Alias, 28, and Airman Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad, 27.

Asked on a claim by a friend of Nor Azlan that the pilot had felt uneasy about flying the helicopter on the fateful day, Azizan said the RMAF had not received any report on the matter.

According to the flight procedures, he said, the pilot could decide not to take off the ground if he/she felt that there was something wrong with the aircraft.

"If the pilot has accepted the duty to fly, it means the aircraft is in good condition," he added.

He said normally, the technician, pilot and co-pilot would conduct preliminary checks on the aircraft and only after giving their approval would the aircraft be flown.

-- BERNAMA