When a rescue helicopter crashed in Hong Kong soon after take-off on a nighttime mission, killing both crew
- A Government Flying Service helicopter crashed in 2003 soon after taking off at night from Hong Kong International Airport to fly a patient to hospital
- The wreckage was found on a Lantau Island hillside, and the pilot and officer were both declared dead on arrival at Princess Margaret Hospital
“International aviation experts will assist a task force investigating the crash of a government helicopter on Lantau Island on Tuesday night in which two crewmen were killed,” reported the South China Morning Post on Thursday, August 28, 2003.
“Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa yesterday said he was shocked and deeply saddened by news of the crash, the first fatal accident recorded since the Government Flying Service was set up in 1993.
“The two victims, Pang Fu-kwok, 34, a Pilot I, and Dickson Chan Man-tik, 31, aircrew officer III, were found inside the main wreckage at 2.58am, four hours after the crash. The site was about 300 metres above Fung Wong Path, Fung Wong Shan, near Pak Kung Au, Lantau.
“They were certified dead upon arrival at Princess Margaret Hospital at 4am.
“An accident investigation team consisting of two pilots, an engineer, an airworthiness officer and an air traffic controller was set up to probe the accident.