CAAM chief urges AI-driven safety culture after Sarawak helicopter tragedy

During the Malaysia Aviation Safety Seminar 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, CAAM chief executive Norazman Mahmud urged the industry to treat safety as a personal responsibility and to leverage safety intelligence, including artificial intelligence, to analyze massive amounts of audit and operational data. He referenced the recent Long Lellang Flying Doctor Service helicopter crash in Sarawak, which claimed five lives, as a painful reminder of the stakes involved.

Mahmud highlighted that the seminar gathered around 500 participants, together embodying about 5,000 years of aviation expertise, which should be transformed into actionable intelligence. He expressed emotional concern over lost lives and called for a cultural shift that makes safety a heartfelt priority. Looking ahead, he suggested that AI and other advanced tools could eventually help the sector achieve the goal of zero fatalities.