Five people — a pilot, a doctor, a medical assistant and two nurses — were believed to be aboard a Flying Doctor Service helicopter that crashed while landing near Long Lellang in northern Sarawak on Tuesday afternoon. The Layang Layang Aerospace-operated BO105C came down near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) airport at about 3.32pm, at the end of Runway 04, according to preliminary reports. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said it received notification from the Flight Information Service at 3.58pm. A later local report said personnel at the scene reported five casualties at about 4.50pm, but the condition of those on board had not been officially confirmed at press time. The names circulating in early reports also remained unconfirmed by the relevant authorities. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau under the Transport Ministry will investigate the crash under Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016. Further updates from CAAM, rescue agencies and the investigation team are needed before the outcome is clear.

Batik Air has agreed to resume Miri–Kuala Lumpur services, according to the Miri MP’s office, but no start date, frequency or timetable has been released. The announcement followed an appeal for the airline to reassess the route after residents reported difficulty finding seats, especially on weekends, public holidays and other peak periods. Until Batik Air publishes a schedule or opens the flights for sale, passengers should not treat the route as already operating. A return would add capacity on a corridor used by Miri and northern Sarawak residents, as well as some travellers from Brunei. It could also give passengers another option when seats are tight. For now, existing travel plans should be based on flights that are actually available in the booking system. The next firm update must come with the airline’s launch date and operating schedule.

Tourism Minister Dato Sri Tiong King Sing has called for mandatory pre-duty drug screening for all pilots and cabin crew, warning against 'denial syndrome' following the Malaysia Airlines pilot drug case in Jakarta. In a Facebook post, the Bintulu MP urged airlines, regulators and police to jointly enforce stricter screening — requiring crew to report 1.5 to 2 hours before shifts for testing. "Agencies and companies should not wait until an unwanted incident occurs before action is taken," he said. The case involves a 39-year-old Malaysian pilot detained at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport with 25kg of drugs — 70,114 ecstasy and methamphetamine pills worth an estimated RM45 million. The pilot tested positive for methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine. Tiong also criticised Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) for downplaying the incident by emphasising the pilot did not operate the aircraft, instead of issuing a public apology. MAG has since mandated drug screening for all 1,260 Malaysia Airlines pilots, with the first phase due by Aug 15. [image: 1786269743849-iong-king-sing.jpg] Location: Kuala Lumpur / Jakarta (involves Sarawak MP Tiong King Sing) Details: RM45M drug seizure; pilot tested positive for 3 substances; MAG orders mandatory pilot screening Source: DayakDaily What do you think? Should all crew be tested before every flight?

[image: 1784196307107-airborneo-kia.jpg] AirBorneo Airways' Boeing 737-800 has arrived at Kuching International Airport ahead of its first Kuching-Kuala Lumpur service. The aircraft arrived on Wednesday, July 15, with commercial operations under the AirBorneo brand scheduled to begin on July 20. Why it matters The Kuching-Kuala Lumpur-Kuching route will be the airline's first service under the new brand after the Sarawak government's acquisition and rebranding of MASwings. Photos of the aircraft in AirBorneo livery have been circulating on social media. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian also shared the aircraft's arrival on Facebook, calling it a milestone for Sarawak's state-owned airline. Flight details AirBorneo said the route will operate twice daily between Kuching International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1. The airline earlier announced promotional one-way fares from RM375 all-in for Economy Class and RM736 all-in for Business Class, inclusive of airport taxes and fuel surcharges. Dr Sim also linked the airline's growth to Sarawak's wider air connectivity plans, including the proposed new Kuching International Airport at Tanjung Embang, expected to be completed after 2030. Location: Kuching International Airport (KIA) Details: Boeing 737-800 arrived before July 20 Kuching-KL launch; route planned twice daily Image: The Borneo Post / Facebook Dr Sim Kui Hian Source: The Borneo Post What do you think?