KUALA LUMPUR: The two helicopters that collided in mid-air during a rehearsal session at the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) base in Lumut were on their third practice run, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said all 10 crew members killed in the crash were based in Lumut and Kota Kinabalu.

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"I urge the public not to spread photos or videos of the incident out of respect for the victims' families and not to disrupt the investigation," he added.

Mohamed Khaled said the victims consisted of officers and members of various ranks aged below 40 years.

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"The family members of the victims who were from Kota Kinabalu will be flown to Lumut today (April 23).

"We will give proper aid and assistance to the families," he told reporters after attending the ministry's Hari Raya open house held at Dewan Seroja, Kem Kementah on Tuesday (April 23).

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Mohamed Khaled said an interim report on the crash would be released prior to the full report.

"However, it will take time as we want to uncover the cause of the incident," he said.