Ill-fated helicopter started to smoke and exploded when it reached the ground: Capt Lee

(NST) – A helicopter pilot who only wanted to be known as Captain Lee said he had witnessed the helicopter carrying Tan Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis (pic) plunge to the ground minutes before it crashed in Kampung Semenyih.

In an interview with Astro Awani, Lee said he was flying to the left of the ill fated copter and had communicated with the captain to inform of the altitude and location he was flying just three minutes before the crash.

“It is the usual practice for us to observe any other aircraft that is flying on similar routes just to inform each other where we were heading.

“After contacting the pilot I continued on my journey. However, just then I glanced at the aircraft which was directly at my right and at that time it was going down.

“There were no explosions mid air, it only started to smoke and explode when it reached the ground,” he said.

Lee said he was of the view that the accident was not due to bad weather as although it was raining it was still reasonably sunny.

“I felt horrified, when I saw it going downwards as I had talked to the captain through radio minutes before. I immediately informed the control tower of the accident,” he said.

The helicopter which also carried five other passengers yesterday crashed at a rubber plantation area along Jalan Sungai Lalang near Kampung Sungai Pening in Semenyih.