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A series of images from the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) Squadron 503 on Facebook on April 19 struck a different chord after the helicopter crash in Lumut, Perak.
Four personnel of Sepanggar-based Squadron 503, including Commander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli, the unit's commanding officer, were lost.
The tragedy occurred at 9:32 a.m. during a flypast practice for the Navy Day celebration involving the RMN's AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter and its Eurocopter Fennec.
After learning about the incident, online users expressed their condolences through images shared by Squadron 503 on April 19. One particular shot touched people deeply.
It featured five Squadron 503 members bidding farewell to their fellow AW139 pilots as they flew towards the naval facility in Lumut aboard two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters.
They had no idea at the time that it would be their last encounter with four of their coworkers. Eleven technicians and nine crew members from the squadron attended the Navy Day event in Lumut.
More than 600 people have commented on the post, the most of them being online sympathisers.
The RMN air unit responsible with operating the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM) is officially known as Squadron 503.
Muhammad Firdaus, 44, a native of Penang, will be buried in Sungai Nibong Besar, where he was raised.
Astro Awani stated that Muhammad Firdaus had over 20 years of navy service, citing a family relative.
He leaves behind a four-year-old child and a wife.
