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Five people died in a helicopter crash at a remote airstrip in the state of Sarawak, located on the northwest coast of Borneo, Malaysian authorities announced on Wednesday.
Disaster management officials said that a "Bo-105" helicopter belonging to the country's "Flying Doctor Service" crashed on Tuesday afternoon about 315 kilometers southeast of the city of Miri.
Galong Luang, head of the Miri Disaster Management Committee, stated in a press release, "The five passengers of the aircraft have died, as confirmed by reports from the Fire and Rescue Department and the Ministry of Health."
The deceased include the pilot, a doctor, a medical assistant, and two nurses, according to local media.
Footage of the incident posted on social media showed the helicopter emitting smoke shortly before it crashed.
A Malaysian team specializing in aviation accident investigation is expected to arrive at the crash site on Wednesday, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia. The cause of the incident is not yet clear at this stage.
The "Flying Doctor Service" in Malaysia provides assistance to indigenous communities that rely heavily on air transport due to the presence of dense forests and rugged terrain in the country's interior.
Medical teams usually travel in helicopters or small planes on scheduled periodic trips to check on villages and traditional longhouse settlements.
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