[UPDATE] Pilot dies after light plane crashes in Ipoh, co-pilot badly injured

IPOH – A light plane with two individuals on board crashed on Jalan Dr Nazrin Shah-Sg Rokam here tonight.

According to an update on Facebook by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, the pilot of the Piper 28 aircraft died, while the co-pilot is now receiving treatment at the hospital for head injuries.

The crash near the Medan Gopeng area is said to have happened at around 8pm.

A team from the Perak Fire and Rescue Department was alerted ten minutes later and rushed to the location and proceeded to remove the two victims from the mangled plane.

Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid later confirmed the matter to reporters and said that the two people from the plane have been rushed to the hospital for treatment.

It is understood that the deceased, hailing from Kuala Kangsar, is Fajim Juffa Mustafa Kamal, 52, while the copilot, Muhammad Din Fikri Zainal Abidin, 62, the chief flight instructor, is being treated at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.

Wee Ka Siong said that the flying school aircraft was on a night training flight, and he was notified of the incident by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau.

He said he has instructed for a thorough investigation to be carried out as soon as possible. 

“CAAM will also issue a press release once more details can be gathered,” he said in a Facebook post.

“I understand that CAAM’s emergency operations centre was activated at 9pm tonight as soon as it was learnt that two pilots were involved in the incident.”  – The Vibes, August 1, 2022