GEORGE TOWN – Police will investigate claims by three eyewitnesses who claimed that an aircraft had crashed off Tanjung Bungah here, at around 2pm on Sunday.
George Town police assistant commissioner Soffian Santong said that out of 10 individuals interviewed, only three of them admitted to seeing a light aircraft crashing into the sea at a distance of around one kilometre from the scene.
"Three witnesses who admitted seeing the incident were in their 50s, where two of them were fishermen, while another worked as a security guard."
"The three of them, who were nearby at the time of the incident, also admitted to seeing objects such as matchboxes plunging into the sea. However, we did not see any fragments or received any official complaints from the departments involved. We are still investigating the incident,” he told a media briefing here.
Soffian said that the police are trying to determine what transpired and whether it could be a drone which had crashed into the water.
"We are seeking for more information and anyone with such information should contact us to aid in the investigation," Soffian said.
The alleged crash is said to have occurred behind the Flamingo Hotel here.
Due to the reports lodged by the three persons, the state dispatched a search and rescue (SAR) team to the scene, consisting of firemen and personnel from the state civil defence force.
They conducted a brief operation looking for wreckage but found nothing, said Soffian.
So the team decided to cease the search at 6.30pm on Sunday.
The SAR operations were currently suspended until police obtained new evidence, including complaints of missing family members or other witness reports.
“Police hope the public do not speculate on the incident. If there is new information, please come to the nearest police station," Soffian said. - The Vibes, September 21, 2020
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