Two people dead after light aircraft crashes near town in Malaysia's Selangor
The pilot was an instructor with a recreational flying club.
A total of 150 personnel from various agencies are involved in efforts to retrieve the bodies from an aircraft crash near Kapar in Selangor, Feb 13, 2024. (Photo: Bernama)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
KUALA LUMPUR: A light aircraft crashed near a town in Malaysia's Selangor state on Tuesday afternoon (Feb 13), killing the pilot and another person on board.
According to Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan, the plane that crashed at around 1.45pm is a recreational aircraft.
"The pilot was an instructor who was attached to a recreational flying club. The passenger was a member of the club,” he said, as quoted by the Star.
The bodies of the two victims, both Malaysians, were found in the cockpit.
Authorities earlier faced challenges retrieving them from the wreckage as part of the plane was buried about 2m deep in the ground of an oil palm plantation. The bodies have since been taken to a hospital for post-mortem.
A total of 150 personnel from various agencies were involved in efforts to retrieve the bodies, Hussein said, adding that the crash did not cause any damage to houses around the area.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) earlier confirmed that two people were on board the aircraft that crashed near the town of Kapar in Selangor's Klang district.
According to CAAM chief executive officer Norazman Mahmud, the aircraft, a Blackshape BK160 Gabriel, was operated by Air Adventure Flying Club.
It departed from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor, at 1.28pm (5.28am GMT) for a recreational flight.
"Last contact made by the aircraft with air traffic control was at 1.35pm, however, there was no distress call received," Captain Norazman said.
Images of the wreckage show the logo of the Singapore-based company Aviation Safety Technology, or AST, emblazoned on the tail of the aircraft. CNA has contacted AST for more information.
A 17-second video showing the wreckage of an unidentified aircraft that crashed in a palm oil plantation went viral earlier in the day.
An eyewitness told Bernama news agency that he saw the light aircraft flying in an unusual pattern before it crashed.
Jinaidi Nasiran, 55, said he was changing the tyre of his car in his parking lot when the incident happened.
“Something is off with the way the aircraft was flying," he said.
“Suddenly it nose-dived into the ground … and I rushed to the crash site and saw that the plane was already in pieces and slightly buried in the ground.
“I tried to look for victims, but none was spotted."
Another resident, 60-year-old Siti Zubaidah Salin, said she heard a loud explosion, felt a tremor and thought it was an earthquake.
“I was just relaxing at home ... when suddenly it felt like an earthquake had occurred. I ran outside but there was nothing. Only later did I hear people talking about a plane crash,” she said.
Fruit seller Sufian Hadi Abas also reported hearing a loud explosion in the air.
“When I looked up, I saw fragments of the plane flying everywhere before it crashed into the ground,” said the 45-year-old.
