Miri, Malaysia: Five people, including a pilot and four Malaysian Health Ministry personnel, were killed after a Flying Doctor Service helicopter crashed near Long Lellang STOLport in Sarawak, Malaysia, on September 8, 2026.
The helicopter, a BO-105 identified as registration 9M-LLF, was operating a Flying Doctor Service mission when it crashed near the end of the airstrip at Long Lellang in the remote Marudi district of northern Sarawak. The aircraft was operated by Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd, according to local reports.
All five people aboard were killed. The victims included the pilot, a medical officer, an assistant medical officer and two nurses from Malaysia’s Ministry of Health, who were travelling on official duty.
Miri Division resident and chairman of the Miri Division Disaster Management Committee, Galong Luang, confirmed the deaths after receiving information from emergency and health authorities.
“This is based on reports from the Fire and Rescue Department and the Ministry of Health,” Galong said.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:40 p.m. near the end of Runway 04. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said it received notification of the occurrence from the Flight Information Service at 3:58 p.m.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the helicopter had departed from Miri carrying one pilot and four Health Ministry personnel.
“Based on the initial information received, the flight departing from Miri was operated by one pilot and carried four MOH health personnel, namely a medical officer, a medical assistant and two nurses who were on official duty,” he said.
Initial information from Sarawak Police indicated that the privately owned helicopter had been chartered for Flying Doctor Service operations covering a route from Miri to Ba Lai, Long Siut and Long Lellang. Other local reports described the flight sector as Miri–Ba Lai–Long Siut–Long Lellang, indicating that Long Lellang was part of the helicopter’s scheduled Flying Doctor Service mission.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said the remote location and haze complicated the initial search-and-rescue response.
“Air support using a helicopter from the Kuching Royal Malaysia Police Air Wing Base could not be carried out due to the hazy conditions and because the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia did not grant flight clearance,” Mohamad Zainal said.
During the initial response, search-and-rescue efforts relied on assistance from local villagers, Malaysian Volunteer Corps personnel and auxiliary police at Long Lellang STOLport, while additional security personnel travelled to the crash site.
The helicopter was later confirmed to have crashed near the end of the Long Lellang airstrip. The initial information from the Miri Airport Fire and Rescue Services indicated that the aircraft had taken off from Miri before crashing near the end of the runway at Long Lellang.
The Long Lellang STOLport serves one of Sarawak’s most isolated regions and is located next to Long Lellang village. The airfield provides access to remote communities, including Kelabit and Penan settlements, with the area lying hundreds of kilometres from Miri and difficult to access by road.
The Flying Doctor Service plays a critical role in delivering medical services to isolated communities in Sarawak, where difficult terrain and limited road access often make air transport essential for healthcare teams.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia confirmed that the aircraft involved was a BO-105 helicopter registered 9M-LLF and said five people, including the pilot, were aboard. The cause of the crash has not been established.
Malaysia’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), under the Ministry of Transport, will investigate the accident in accordance with Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016.
“The Air Accident Investigation Bureau, under the Transport Ministry, will investigate the incident,” CAAM said.
Sarawak Police also urged the public not to speculate while authorities continue examining the circumstances of the accident.
The investigation is expected to determine the sequence of events leading to the crash of the Flying Doctor Service helicopter and identify any contributing factors. No official cause has been announced.
