PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The remains of Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis and Mr Azlin Alias, the political ally and the private secretary of Prime Minister Najib Razak, have been identified, according to the Prime Minister's Press Office on Sunday.

It said in a Twitter post at 7.47am that their remains would be brought home on Sunday morning for funeral arrangements.

This is the first official confirmation of their deaths following the accident at 4.55pm on Saturday.

The helicopter carrying Dr Jamaluddin, the special envoy to the United States, Mr Azlin and four others exploded in mid-air and crashed in Semenyih, just minutes away from its destination. The charred bodies were found by the Fire and Rescue Department personnel at 8.15pm.

It is believed that all six were killed instantly when the helicopter exploded over a rubber plantation along Jalan Sungai Lallang, Kampung Pasir Baru, during a downpour.

The corporate AS365N2 Dauphin helicopter was owned by IGB Corporation and operated by Cempaka Aviation, which is owned by the pilot.

The group left a wedding reception for the Prime Minister's daughter in Pekan and were headed for Kuala Lumpur where Dr Jamaluddin was to attend another wedding reception.

A witness confirmed that he had heard two explosions - one in mid-air - which strew debris all over the plantation.

Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was at the scene of the tragedy on Saturday, later confirmed that Dr Jamaluddin was on board.

The bodies were taken to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur late Saturday night. At the hospital, there was heightened security at the mortuary. Family and friends gathered at the compound, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the bodies.

At press time, Mr Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor as well as the newlyweds, Nooryana Najwa and husband Daniyar Kessikbayev, who were still in their wedding attire, were at the scene being briefed by Dr Zahid.