Switch In Opening Show At LIMA 2007 Following Mishap
LANGKAWI, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The airfield seizure simulation planned for the opening tomorrow of the airshow segment of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2007 exhibition has been called off following the mishap during training yesterday that resulted in three paratroopers killed and 11 injured.
In its place will be an air assault exercise using aircraft, which will be preceded by a free-fall parachute jump by nine commandos of the Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) and not paratroopers of the 10th Para Brigade of the army.
This was disclosed today to reporters by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after he had visited several of the paratroopers injured in yesterday's mishap, at the Langkawi Hospital here.
He said the 11th hour decision to switch the opening demonstration was made in view of yesterday's accident and due to the unpredictable strong winds that occurred often in the parachuting area at the Langkawi International Airport here.
"They (the commandos) performing the free-fall parachute jump can manoeuvre their parachutes and this will ensure better safety," he said.
During yesterday's training at about 10.30am, several of the 138 paratroopers of the 10th Para Brigade who jumped of their planes were blown off course, some by more than 500 metres, from the targeted area of the airport after they were caught in a gust.
Some of the paratroopers landed outside the perimeter fence of the airport, some got entangled in trees, some had a hard landing on the airport tarmac and some got blown way out to sea, among them the three who were killed.
The dead paratroopers were Ranger Siti Hajar Yakub, 24, Private Nurul Wahida Mohamad Yunus, 20, and Trooper Raimond Duncan, 25.
Twenty-two other paratroopers were ordered not to make the jump once it was learnt that some of those who had jumped earlier had gotten into difficulties.
Najib said that though highly skilled commandos would be engaged in the free-fall parachute jump tomorrow, any sign of unfavourable weather or strong winds could cause the event to be called off as well.
He said that unlike the 10th Para Brigade paratroopers, who would not be allowed to jump when the wind velocity exceeds 10 knots, the commandos could perform a parachute jump safely in winds of up to 25 knots.
This morning, the commandos and the relevant aircraft engaged in a training stint that went without a hitch.
Nevertheless, he said, personnel from the 10th Para Brigade would still be involved in the opening show as they would be aboard the aircraft engaged in the air assault exercise.
Asked on the investigation into yesterday's mishap, Najib said the board of inquiry chaired by Chief of Air Force Gen Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin was set up immediately, and that it had one month to come up with a report.
The members of the board and their number were being worked out with the assistance of the Chief of Army Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin, he added.
Earlier, Najib, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and the chiefs of army and air force visited the injured paratroopers at the Langkawi Hospital.
"They said they were able to save themselves as they were able to follow the stipulated procedures.
"If they should fall into the sea, there were certain procedures they had to follow.
"Although they were unable to fulfil all the procedures, they were at least able to execute some of them. This was what saved them," he said.
-- BERNAMA
In its place will be an air assault exercise using aircraft, which will be preceded by a free-fall parachute jump by nine commandos of the Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) and not paratroopers of the 10th Para Brigade of the army.
This was disclosed today to reporters by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after he had visited several of the paratroopers injured in yesterday's mishap, at the Langkawi Hospital here.
He said the 11th hour decision to switch the opening demonstration was made in view of yesterday's accident and due to the unpredictable strong winds that occurred often in the parachuting area at the Langkawi International Airport here.
"They (the commandos) performing the free-fall parachute jump can manoeuvre their parachutes and this will ensure better safety," he said.
During yesterday's training at about 10.30am, several of the 138 paratroopers of the 10th Para Brigade who jumped of their planes were blown off course, some by more than 500 metres, from the targeted area of the airport after they were caught in a gust.
Some of the paratroopers landed outside the perimeter fence of the airport, some got entangled in trees, some had a hard landing on the airport tarmac and some got blown way out to sea, among them the three who were killed.
The dead paratroopers were Ranger Siti Hajar Yakub, 24, Private Nurul Wahida Mohamad Yunus, 20, and Trooper Raimond Duncan, 25.
Twenty-two other paratroopers were ordered not to make the jump once it was learnt that some of those who had jumped earlier had gotten into difficulties.
Najib said that though highly skilled commandos would be engaged in the free-fall parachute jump tomorrow, any sign of unfavourable weather or strong winds could cause the event to be called off as well.
He said that unlike the 10th Para Brigade paratroopers, who would not be allowed to jump when the wind velocity exceeds 10 knots, the commandos could perform a parachute jump safely in winds of up to 25 knots.
This morning, the commandos and the relevant aircraft engaged in a training stint that went without a hitch.
Nevertheless, he said, personnel from the 10th Para Brigade would still be involved in the opening show as they would be aboard the aircraft engaged in the air assault exercise.
Asked on the investigation into yesterday's mishap, Najib said the board of inquiry chaired by Chief of Air Force Gen Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin was set up immediately, and that it had one month to come up with a report.
The members of the board and their number were being worked out with the assistance of the Chief of Army Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin, he added.
Earlier, Najib, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and the chiefs of army and air force visited the injured paratroopers at the Langkawi Hospital.
"They said they were able to save themselves as they were able to follow the stipulated procedures.
"If they should fall into the sea, there were certain procedures they had to follow.
"Although they were unable to fulfil all the procedures, they were at least able to execute some of them. This was what saved them," he said.
-- BERNAMA
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