The crash occurred Friday in Kuala Belait in the oil-rich sultanate on the island of Borneo.

“We have 12 fatalities in the helicopter crash. Two military cadets survived the crash,” Brunei air force spokesman Norudin Salleh said.

The Brunei defence ministry said the two survivors were in stable condition.

The Bell 212 military aircraft was carrying 14 people including the pilot.

The defence ministry on its website said Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah had expressed great sadness and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

“His majesty hoped that they would be patient, and also prayed that the souls of the victims would be blessed and placed with the pious,” it said.

It also said that while the “exact circumstances of this tragic incident remain to be determined, the ministry of defence is taking appropriate action to ascertain the facts”.