Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the air traffic control centre would continue to monitor various aspects involving flights, including the weather.
“No helicopter services will be grounded. I think the air traffic control centre will still regulate all these air traffic in a smooth manner. There is no problem in terms of flight services.
“The weather is also good now,” he said after handing out appointment letters to Village Safety and Development Committee chiefs at Wisma MCA here today.
Prime Minister Najib Razak, during a press conference in Kuching, Sarawak, had confirmed that a Eurocopter AS350 was reported missing yesterday after taking off from Betong at 4.12pm.
Six people were on board the helicopter, namely Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Noriah Kasnon; her husband Asmuni Abdullah; the ministry’s secretary-general Dr Sundaran Annamalai; Kuala Kangsar Member of Parliament Wan Muhammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad; Noriah’s bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun; and Filipino pilot Rudolf Rex Ragas.
The helicopter left Betong, about 250km from here, at 4.12pm yesterday and lost contact with the control tower three minutes later.
This morning, parts of the helicopter and a woman’s body was found by the search and rescue team in Sebuyau.
– BERNAMA