Killed pilot on training exercise
By MARTIN CARVALHO and SHAUN HO
SUBANG JAYA: The Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) has denied that pilot Mejar Zulrihan Yusoh, who was killed when his Pilatus PC-7 MK II caught fire and exploded in mid-air, was involved in an air show.
Air Force chief Jen Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud said Mej Zulrihan, 33, was on a flight training exercise when the incident happened.
“We are investigating the cause which is expected to take up to four weeks as the cockpit voice and flight data recorder or Black Box, will be sent to Switzerland, and possibly the United States, for analysis.
“An investigation board led by Kol Law Ing Hiong from the RMAF Inspector-General’s office has been set up to investigate the cause,” Jen Rodzali told reporters at the Subang Air Base yesterday.
In Malacca, Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiif Ahmad said he did not want to jump the gun on the cause of the accident despite an amateur recording of it posted on YouTube showed a small explosion before the pilot ejected from the plane.
“Let the investigating
He described Mej Zulrihan as an experienced and senior trainer and said that the plane Zulrihan was flying was a reputed Swiss-made aircraft that was acquired by the air force two years ago.
To a question, Dr Abdul Latif said the remaining 17 Pilatus MK II aircraft would not be grounded as the planes were fit for use.
Mej Zulrihan was found dead, still strapped to his seat, about 10m from the crash site despite ejecting from the cockpit after the plane encountered engine trouble.
About 1,000 people who were attending Universiti Utara Malaysia’s 23rd convocation and expo at its sports complex here, watched in horror as the plane exploded in mid-air at 10.15am.
source from TheStarOnline
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