“Mommy, daddy will come home tomorrow, right? Sofia misses daddy. Why are there so many people with us?”
Those were the heartbreaking words shared by the young daughter of Captain Zainol Afiq, who was among five people confirmed dead in a helicopter crash at the Long Lellang STOLport in Sarawak yesterday.
The pilot’s wife, Izzati Syamimi, shared the emotional exchange with her daughter on Threads after learning that her husband had died in the tragedy.
“Sofia, mommy and daddy love Sofia. Mommy still hopes that daddy will come home. We have to be strong. All mommy’s children are strong,” she wrote.
The mother of two had earlier made two other posts asking the public to pray for her family and for their affairs to be eased as they faced the devastating loss.
“Pray for me and the children. Pray for my husband, my angel in heaven. I have never felt pain like this… please come home,” she wrote in another post, which also included a screenshot showing her husband’s last known location.
In her latest post this morning, Izzati also appealed to the media to give her family space as they come to terms with the tragedy.
The BO-105 helicopter carrying five people, including Captain Zainol, crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Airport (STOLport) in Ulu Baram yesterday afternoon.
The helicopter was operating a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) flight to the interior of Sarawak.
The five victims were identified as medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin; Captain Zainol; assistant medical officer Alexson Adit; and nurses Debra Moset and Jessie Paya.
An air support mission from the Royal Malaysia Police Air Wing base in Kuching could not be deployed yesterday due to hazy weather and because the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) did not grant flight clearance.
More than 20 personnel from various agencies, including 12 firefighters, have been deployed this morning for the search and rescue (SAR) operation.
Marudi Fire and Rescue Station chief Assistant Fire Superintendent Jessbent Jenus said the team was scheduled to depart at about 9am using a Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Mi-171 helicopter.
The journey by road from Marudi to the crash site is estimated to take about 10 hours.
