# Sarawak Flying Doctor Service helicopter crash > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sarawak-flying-doctor-service-helicopter-crash > Updated: 2026-09-10T16:20:11.000Z. Sources: 45. Developments: 3. A Flying Doctor Service (FDS) BO-105 helicopter crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport in Ulu Baram, Sarawak, killing all five people on board. The victims have been identified as pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, medical officer Dr. Ainul Baroah Kamaruddin, assistant medical officer Alexson Adit Henry, and nurses Debra Moset and Jessie Paya Jok. The crash occurred while the aircraft was performing official duties for the Malaysian Ministry of Health to provide medical services to remote jungle communities. Search and rescue efforts were hindered by heavy rain and haze from regional wildfires, which limited visibility and restricted the use of aerial assets. The remote location required a 10-hour journey by road. In response to the tragedy, the Malaysian Ministry of Health has temporarily suspended all FDS operations in Sarawak to conduct a comprehensive safety and operational review. This suspension leaves approximately 97 remote localities, which have relied on the service since 1973 for medicine, vaccines, and emergency evacuations, without their primary connection to healthcare. Additionally, Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd has voluntarily grounded its entire fleet of BO-105 helicopters and other aircraft using Rolls-Royce 250-series engines as a precautionary measure. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau are conducting a formal inquiry. The Sarawak state government announced it will provide RM100,000 to each victim's family and will fully cover the education fees for their school-aged children through Yayasan Sarawak. Tributes have been shared for Captain Zainol Afiq, who was described by family as a kind and professional pilot. His brother-in-law noted that one year prior to this accident, the captain had successfully managed a separate emergency landing during severe weather, ensuring the safety of his crew and a patient. ## Claims - Haze from wildfires complicated search and rescue efforts. (disputed by 7 sources) - Heavy rain has delayed search and rescue efforts at the crash site. (disputed) - Five people died in a Flying Doctor Service helicopter crash. (corroborated by 21 sources) - The victims included one pilot, one medical officer, one assistant medical officer, and two nurses. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The helicopter was a BO-105 model. (corroborated by 15 sources) - The helicopter crashed near the Long Lellang STOL airport in Sarawak. (corroborated by 11 sources) - Medical Officer Dr Ainul Baroah Kamaruddin was identified as one of the victims. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) is investigating the cause of the helicopter crash. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The crash site is in a remote area requiring a 10-hour road journey. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Sarawak state government is contributing RM100,000 to each family of the victims. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Sarawak Flying Doctor Service suspends flights after fatal helicopter crash A fatal helicopter crash involving the Sarawak Flying Doctor Service has suspended medical flights to remote villages, prompting the Sarawak government to provide financial aid to the victims' families. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sarawak-flying-doctor-service-suspends-flights-after-fatal-helicopter-crash ### 2026-09-09: Captain Zainol Afiq killed in Sarawak helicopter crash Five people, including Captain Zainol Afiq and four Malaysian Ministry of Health staff, died when an FDS helicopter crashed near Long Lellang, Sarawak. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/captain-zainol-afiq-killed-in-sarawak-helicopter-crash ### 2026-09-08: Sarawak helicopter crash kills five Flying Doctor Service personnel Five people, including medical staff and a pilot, died when a Flying Doctor Service helicopter crashed near Long Lellang, Sarawak. FDS operations in Sarawak are suspended pending a safety investigation. 39 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sarawak-helicopter-crash-kills-five-flying-doctor-service-personnel --- Cite as: Sarawak Flying Doctor Service helicopter crash. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sarawak-flying-doctor-service-helicopter-crash