Source:
BernamaDecember 18, 2003 19:20 PM
All Training Flights Using Hawk Jetfighters SuspendedKUANTAN, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- All training flights by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) using the Hawk 108 jetfighters have been suspended with immediate effect until the cause of the air crash in Pahang waters off Kampung Sepat Thursday has been determined.
RMAF Chief General Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad said a board of inquiry had been set up to investigate the crash which occurred about one nautical mile from Kampung Sepat.
He said this to reporters when visiting the remains of the two pilots who were both captains. However, he declined to disclose their names until their relatives had been informed.
"The aircraft was on a training flight at 11.30am with two pilots, in their 30's, with the rank of captain. The last communication received from them was at 12.08pm before we lost contact (with the aircraft)," he said.
He said the jetfighter was supposed to return to base at 12.30pm.
He said the armed forces later received a call from the public informing that a jetfighter had crashed in the sea.
"Both victims were retrieved by fishermen and taken to the Kuantan Marine Police jetty. One of the victims was confirmed dead at the scene of the incident, while the other died at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan at 2.45pm," he said.
Both pilots were from the No.6, Air Force Squadron, Kuantan, he said.
He said the aircraft had sunk and work to salvage the wreckage was expected to start Friday.
It is learnt that one of the pilots was married while the other was a bachelor.
Bernama also learnt that one of the two pilots was from Kelantan while the other was from Melaka.
Meanwhile, an employee of the Kuantan Municipal Council, Saadon Mohd Sha, 37, who was catching fish in the area said he saw an aircraft going into a nosedive before crashing, just about 400 metres from the spot where he was catching fish.
"I rushed to the spot immediately in my boat. Later I saw the two pilots floating before a trawler boat came by.
"We carried both the victims and took them to the Kuantan Marine Police jetty," he said.
-- BERNAMA