The students of SMK Balung in Tawau, Sabah got a huge shock when a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Nuri helicopter crash-landed in their school on Tuesday morning.
According to The Star Online, the helicopter had reportedly taken off from the Tawau airport — located around 10km away from the school — for a routine training flight when the pilot lost control of the chopper and crashed into the school.
Tawau police chief Asst Comm Fadil Marcus told the news portal that the 14 RMAF personnel on board the helicopter were hurt in the incident.
Five students were also reportedly injured, ACP Fadil added.
He told The Star Online that the injured victims were rushed to a nearby clinic while some were later transferred to the Tawau hospital.
As a result of the crash, the police had secured the area and the school, which has around 1,600 students and 100 teachers, has been temporarily closed.
“Investigations are underway to determine what had happened,” ACP Fadil was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Tawau Fire acting chief Faisal Ahmad said his department received a distress call at around 9.05am, and three fire engines with 18 personnel were dispatched to the scene.
The situation was reportedly already under control when the fire personnel reached the scene, Faisal told the news portal.
