A video call lasting more than an hour with his mother the night before the fatal helicopter crash has become the final memory of pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham for his family.
His father, Bee Sham Ahmad, 59, said Zainol Afiq, 31, had spoken to his mother, Zaiton Muda, 59, for more than an hour and a half, from around 10pm until after 11pm the night before the incident.
“He always called us, but the night before yesterday, he had a video call with his mother for more than an hour and a half, from 10pm until after 11pm… little did we know that it would be his last call,” he told Bernama today.
The family only learned of the tragedy yesterday afternoon after one of Zainol Afiq’s siblings called to inform them that he had been involved in the crash.
Bee Sham said the family last saw Zainol Afiq during the recent Negeri Sembilan State Election, when the pilot took a week’s leave to return to Senawang to cast his vote before heading back to Miri to resume his duties.
The family is now travelling to Miri, Sarawak, to undergo DNA testing and identification procedures while awaiting further information about the recovery and repatriation of the victims’ remains.
“We were informed that all the victims are still at the crash site as it is located deep in the interior. We are still waiting for further information on arrangements to bring the remains home and, if permitted, we intend to bury him at the Forest Heights Senawang Muslim Cemetery,” he said.
Zainol Afiq leaves behind his wife and two children, aged six years and 10 months.
The BO-105 helicopter carrying five people, including Zainol Afiq, crashed and caught fire near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Airport (STOLport) in Ulu Baram yesterday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed receiving notification of the crash from the Flight Information Service at 3.58pm.
The four other victims were Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, assistant medical officer Alexson Adit, and nurses Debra Moset and Jessie Paya.
