Sarawak copter crash SAR effort ended, focus on finding wreckage

PETALING JAYA: The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has officially ended the search and rescue (SAR) effort following the recent helicopter crash in Sarawak which claimed the life of a deputy minister.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman (pix) said the SAR, which had involved the participation of various agencies, was called off following the discovery of the final body on May 10.
He however said the search for the helicopter's wreckage would continue to facilitate investigations into the cause of the crash.
"This is to ensure there will be no repetition of the same incident in the future," he said in a statement.
He said the wreckage recovery operation would be headed by the DCA, along with the participation of the Transport Ministry, Air Accident Investigation Bureau and several other agencies.
The ill-fated AS350 aircraft was reported missing while en route from Betong to Kuching on May 5. It was later discovered to have crashed near the Batang Lupar river, killing all six on board.
Among those who perished in the tragedy were Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon.
Noriah was travelling with her husband Asmuni Abdullah, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad, Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai and Noriah's bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun in the helicopter piloted by Captain Rudolf Rex Ragas.