The search for a helicopter, which went missing 20 minutes into its trip from Betong to Kuching, Sarawak yesterday, is in full swing.
Members of the state police force are now combing through the districts of Sri Aman, Simunjan and Betong as search efforts intensify, while a team from the Marine Police and a Police helicopter joined the operation at 6am, Bernama reports.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Army have also been enlisted to assist.
“I have ordered the RMAF and Army to join the SAR mission,” he said on Twitter.
The Eurocopter AS350 helicopter took off from Betong at 4.12pm yesterday but lost contact at 4.32pm, just two days before the state elections.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon, her husband and four others were reportedly on board.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman denied rumours that the helicopter had made a safe emergency landing yesterday.
