CAAM flagged heli operator’s maintenance issues days before crash
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) had flagged maintenance and staffing issues at Layang Layang Aerospace shortly before a fatal helicopter crash in Sarawak. Officials stated that while these issues were identified, they have not yet been linked to the mechanical cause of the accident.
Why it matters
The incident raises questions about aviation safety oversight and the potential impact of administrative failures on operational safety.
The BO-105 helicopter operating a Flying Doctor Service flight was flying from Miri airport to Long Lellang when it crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport on Sept 8. (Facebook pics)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) flagged several maintenance issues during an inspection of the company that operated the Flying Doctor Service helicopter which crashed in Sarawak last month, killing five.
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said CAAM inspected Layang Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd's maintenance operations from Sept 1 to 4, with follow-up checks completed on Sept 6, two days before the crash.
The inspection found three issues: the company's maintenance staff planning, unclear records of certain scheduled maintenance checks, and inadequate written procedures for continuing operations after an emergency.
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