Senator urges govt to replace ageing helicopters, temporarily ground BO-105s after Sarawak crash

In light of the recent fatal Flying Doctor Service helicopter crash in Sarawak, Senator Dr. RA Lingeshwaran has urged the Malaysian government to reassess the use of ageing helicopters, specifically recommending the temporary grounding of all BO-105 models until the crash's cause is identified.

Highlighting the importance of safety over operational costs, Lingeshwaran emphasized that despite the service being operated under a private contract, the government holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring aircraft meet high safety standards.

He further insisted on firm governmental action if the investigation reveals that the helicopter's age or condition contributed to the incident, while extending his condolences to the victims' families.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — The government must review the use of ageing helicopters and ensure contractors replace them with newer and more suitable aircraft, Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran said today following the fatal Flying Doctor Service (FDS) crash in Sarawak.

He also called for all BO-105 helicopters to be temporarily grounded until investigators established the cause of the crash.

“Human lives cannot be measured against contract costs or operating profits. Precautionary measures must be taken now without waiting for a second tragedy,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Lingeshwaran said that although the FDS was operated by a private company under a government contract, Putrajaya remained responsible for ensuring contractors used aircraft meeting the highest safety and aviation standards.

He said aviation records indicated that the helicopter involved, registered as 9M-LLF, was built in Germany around 1991 — making it about 35 years old — and had previously carried registrations in Germany, the US and South Africa before entering service in Malaysia.

Lingeshwaran described the aircraft as used or reconditioned and noted that production of the BO-105 model ended in 2001.

He said the government should take full responsibility and act firmly against the operator if investigators found that the aircraft’s age, maintenance history or condition contributed to the crash.

Lingeshwaran also expressed his condolences to the families and colleagues of the four Health Ministry personnel and pilot killed in the tragedy.

The BO-105 crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport in Baram yesterday while carrying out an FDS mission, with the Air Accident Investigation Bureau under the Transport Ministry investigating the cause.

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鉴于最近马来西亚飞行医生服务直升机在砂拉越发生致命坠毁事故，参议员林格什瓦兰博士敦促马来西亚政府重新评估老旧直升机的使用情况，并特别建议暂时停飞所有BO-105型号直升机，直到查明坠机原因。

Lingeshwaran强调安全比运营成本更重要，并指出尽管该服务是根据私人合同运营的，但政府对确保飞机符合高安全标准负有最终责任。

他还强调，如果调查显示直升机的机龄或状况是造成事故的原因之一，政府必须采取坚决行动，同时向遇难者家属表示慰问。

吉隆坡，9月9日讯——在砂拉越发生致命的飞行医生服务（FDS）坠机事故后，参议员林格什瓦兰博士今天表示，政府必须审查老旧直升机的使用情况，并确保承包商用更新、更合适的飞机替换它们。

他还呼吁所有 BO-105 型直升机暂时停飞，直到调查人员确定坠机原因。

“人的生命不能用合同成本或运营利润来衡量。必须立即采取预防措施，不能等到第二次悲剧发生，”他今天在脸书上发帖说。

Lingeshwaran表示，虽然FDS是由一家私营公司根据政府合同运营的，但布城仍然有责任确保承包商使用的飞机符合最高的安全和航空标准。

他说，航空记录显示，涉事直升机注册号为 9M-LLF，于 1991 年左右在德国制造——至今已有约 35 年历史——此前曾在德国、美国和南非注册，之后才在马来西亚投入使用。

Lingeshwaran 将这架飞机描述为二手或翻新的，并指出 BO-105 型号的生产已于 2001 年结束。

他表示，如果调查人员发现飞机的机龄、维护历史或状况是造成坠机的原因，政府应该承担全部责任，并对运营商采取严厉措施。

林格什瓦兰还向在这起悲剧中丧生的四名卫生部工作人员和飞行员的家属和同事表示慰问。

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