The incident took place at 9:32 a.m. on Tuesday morning at the Lumut naval base in Perak's western state.
The navy promptly confirmed the fatalities and transported the victims to the Lumut Naval Base Military Hospital for identification.
Footage circulating on local media captured the chilling moment of the collision, showing the helicopters flying in formation before one rotor clipped another, leading to the catastrophic crash. Local authorities verified the authenticity of the video.
In response to the accident, the navy announced plans for a thorough investigation into its cause.
Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin revealed that the two aircraft involved—a maritime operations helicopter and a Fennec military chopper—were practicing manoeuvres for the forthcoming 90th-anniversary celebration of the Royal Malaysian Navy, slated for Saturday.
Efforts were underway to confirm the identities of the deceased crew members, all of whom were under 40 years old, as Mohamed Khaled informed reporters.
