A crash grounds the flights

The Flying Doctor Service is suspended after a BO-105 helicopter came down near the Long Lellang STOLport runway on Tuesday at about 3.40pm. All five people on board died.

Four agencies step in

The police, the Royal Malaysian Air Force, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Fire and Rescue Department will fly mercy missions for the Health Ministry in the meantime.

Firemen bring their air rescue

One piece of the stopgap is EMARS, the Fire and Rescue Department's Emergency Medical Air Rescue Services. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad says these alternatives are already running.

“As I mentioned in a previous statement, we have already mobilised these measures and other alternatives”

Fifteen thousand people depend on it

Seven Health Ministry FDS teams cover roughly 14,000 to 15,000 residents in parts of Sarawak that ordinary roads and rivers cannot reach quickly.

“Seven MOH FDS teams provide services to approximately 14,000 to 15,000 residents in remote areas that are difficult to access via conventional routes”

The pause cannot last

Dzulkefly says the ministry cannot let the service stay suspended for too long, while it works on tightening the safety side at the same time.

Waiting on the investigation

No decision on resuming FDS flights until investigators report back. Those findings will shape both the safety changes and the restart date.

“MOH is awaiting the investigation findings from the authorities before determining the next steps”

The five who died

Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin, 33, Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30, medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31, and nurses Jessie Paya Jok, 44, and Debra Moset, 40. The minister spoke after Dr Ainul's funeral in Kota Bharu.