KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd has voluntarily grounded its entire fleet of BO 105 helicopters and other aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce 250-series engines as a precautionary safety measure following the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Sarawak two days ago that claimed five lives.

Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said the decision was taken by the operator voluntarily and should not be interpreted as an indication of technical failure.

“I wish to stress that this grounding is precautionary. It is a precautionary safety measure taken by the operator. It should not be interpreted as an indication that the engine or any other particular component caused the accident,” he told reporters at the Malaysia Aviation Safety Seminar (MASS) 2026, here today.

Norazman said CAAM records showed that the helicopter’s Certificate of Airworthiness was valid until Aug 4, 2027, while its Certificate of Registration remained valid until July 28, 2029.

Addressing concerns over the aircraft’s operational lifespan, he said age alone did not determine airworthiness as long as the aircraft was properly maintained and continued to meet all maintenance protocols.

“From an airworthiness perspective, age alone is not a determining factor, provided the aircraft is properly maintained in accordance with its approved maintenance program and continues to meet all applicable airworthiness requirements,” he said.

Norazman said CAAM was monitoring the operator’s grounding and inspection programme, while also verifying the relevant regulatory, operator and pilot records.

The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry is independently investigating the crash.

“Any confirmed findings concerning the cause of the accident must come from AAIB following a thorough examination of the evidence. AAIB is responsible for establishing the circumstances, contributing factors, and cause of the accident...and CAAM is fully cooperating with the investigation and providing all relevant records,” he said.

Norazman urged the public and media to refrain from speculating on the cause of the crash before the investigation was completed.

“At this stage, it would be premature to speculate on whether the accident was caused by a technical issue, weather conditions, human factors, or any other factors,” he said.

On whether the operator had any previous history of air crashes, Norazman said CAAM would review its official records before releasing further details.

He added that in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 standards, AAIB would issue a preliminary investigation report within 30 days of the incident, followed by a final report within one year.

The BO-105 helicopter, operating a FDS mission, crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-off and Landing Airport (STOLport) in Ulu Baram, about 929 kilometres from Kuching last Tuesday, killing all five people onboard, including the 30-year-old pilot, Capt Zainol Afiq Bee Sham.

The other four were medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33; medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31; and nurses Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44. — Bernama