[VIDEO] Body of RMAF pilot to be flown home for burial

BUTTERWORTH – The hearse carrying the remains of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) pilot Mohamed Affendi Bustamy left the Seberang Jaya Hospital mortuary at 2pm today.

RMAF sources said the hearse will arrive at the RMAF air base here and flown to the Kuantan Air Base where Affendi’s remains will be taken back to his home at Bandar Muadzam Shah for burial.

A postmortem was conducted before the body was released to the family of the late RMAF pilot.

Affendi, aged 31, was killed while another was injured when their Hawk 108 fighter jet was involved in an accident around 10.07pm yesterday, while on night flight training.

The aircraft was about to land at the Butterworth air case tarmac when it skidded and crashed, taking the life of Affendi.

The injured, Mohd Fareez Omar, was rushed to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment, and is reported to be in stable condition.

Both RMAF officers were married.

The cause of the incident has yet to be determined at press time.

The crash took place just as RMAF was looking to procure 18 new combat aircrafts to replace the ageing fleet of more than a dozen Hawk 108 fighter jets, which have been in service since 1994.

Two loud bangs heard before crash

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that a witness heard two loud explosions moments before flames shot into the air at the runway of the base.

“When the accident occurred around 10pm, I heard loud explosions... twice followed by a blaze after the plane crashed,” the witness, Mastura Mohammad Nordin, 44, who owns an eatery at Kg Benggali, Sg Puyu, here, told reporters yesterday.

She said after witnessing the incident, she and three of her workers along with several customers rushed from her stall – located some 100m away from the base – to the perimeter fence to get a clearer view of the incident and saw what looked like a fire on the runway.

“After the crash, we rushed to the fence and saw a blaze. We hoped nothing serious had befallen the pilot or any bystanders,” she added.

Last month, RMAF closed the tender for its light combat aircraft and fighter lead‐in trainer programme valued at RM4 billion, half of which involved the counter trade of crude palm oil and related products. – The Vibes, November 17, 2021