Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

KUALA LUMPUR: Farm Fresh Bhd farm director Jacob Mathan died following a helicopter crash in the Philippines on Tuesday.

The company’s managing director, Loi Tuan Ee, said the 35-year-old died at about 7.20am when the helicopter he was travelling in went down in Pitilla, Rizal Province.

The aircraft was reportedly heading to visit a potential farm site when it encountered engine trouble, turning what was meant to be a routine trip into a tragedy.

In a statement posted on Farm Fresh’s Facebook page on Wednesday, Loi described Jacob as a key and much-loved member of the company and expressed deep sorrow over the sudden loss.

He also confirmed that the company’s Philippines chief executive officer, Shawn Pu, who was on board the same helicopter, sustained injuries but is currently in stable condition.

Jacob joined Farm Fresh 13 years ago as a university intern at its Mawai farm before steadily rising through the ranks to become farm director.

He played a significant role in strengthening the group’s dairy farm division and building ties with contractors, suppliers and government agencies, including the Department of Veterinary Services and the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC).