A RESIDENT living near the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Kuantan has claimed that a powerful explosion was heard up to a kilometre away following the crash of an F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet during take-off last night.
Khairul Azli Syahmie Abdul Aziz, 26, who lives in Taman Pandan Perdana, said the loud explosion occurred at around 9.00pm.
“At first, I didn’t think the sound came from a jet exploding during take-off,” he said.
“My neighbourhood is closest to Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport, and we are quite used to hearing loud noises. However, the blast during the incident was far louder than anything we’ve heard before,” he added.
He noted that residents frequently hear explosive sounds from military training exercises, even at night, due to the proximity of the airbase.
“Because the explosion was so unusually loud, many residents rushed to the airport to find out what had happened,” he said. “After the incident, videos of the jet crash during take-off started circulating on social media.”
Images and footage showing a fire on the runway also went viral online in the aftermath of the crash.
The RMAF, in an official statement, confirmed that an F/A-18D Hornet had been involved in the incident at Kuantan Air Base. The crash occurred on the runway of Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport at 9:05pm.
In a latest development, Pahang Police Chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman has confirmed that both pilots involved in the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F/A-18D Hornet crash are safe and currently undergoing medical assessment at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) in Kuantan.
“The accident occurred as the aircraft was preparing for take-off,” he said when contacted.
“Police are awaiting the results of the medical evaluation by HTAA’s medical team. However, at this point, it has been confirmed that both pilots are safe,” he added.
Yahaya also confirmed that the crash took place on the runway at Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport, which houses the Kuantan Air Base. “The location of the crash did not involve any civilian residential areas,” he noted.
Earlier, the RMAF’s Public Affairs Division issued a statement confirming that the incident occurred at approximately 9:05pm on the base’s runway.. - August 22, 2025
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