MIRI: A DHC-6 Twin Otter has reportedly made a crash landing at Marudi Airport and skidded off the runway, killing three of its passengers.
The aircraft, carrying nine passengers and two crews, veered off the runway while trying to land on Wednesday at 1.46pm.
Prior to the incident, the plane was en route to Mulu from Miri.
As a result of the incident, the airport’s runway was closed to enable the rescue operation.
Upon receiving the emergency alert, 11 firemen from Marudi fire station were dispatched to the scene. Seven other government agencies also rushed to the scene to assist in the rescue operation.
The incident was part of an emergency drill involving nearly 50 “actors”, who played dead or severely injured passengers and flight crews.
Meanwhile, rescuers arrived at the tarmac within minutes and spent 45 minutes rehearsing their responses, which included triaging and treating patients, controlling the fire and managing the traffic at the airport and its surroundings.
The exercise which ended at 2.38pm was organised by Marudi Airport in collaboration with Marudi fire station (Bomba), Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Airport Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS), medical personnel and Marudi police force.
The emergency exercise was carried out in order to improve the emergency response plan and capabilities of the rescue team.
