Title: US-Made Fighter Jet Crashes in Malaysia; Both Crew Eject Safely
KUALA LUMPUR – A US-manufactured Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday night, with both crew members successfully ejecting to safety.
Incident Details
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet experienced an engine fire as it departed from the runway at Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport in the city of Kuantan. According to a statement from the RMAF, the incident occurred at precisely 9:05 PM local time, mere seconds after the aircraft became airborne from the runway, which is shared by the civilian airport and the Kuantan Air Force Base.
Crew Safely Ejected
The RMAF confirmed that the pilot and the weapon systems officer (WSO) onboard both activated the aircraft’s emergency ejection system. The mechanism functioned as designed, and both personnel exited the aircraft without life-threatening injuries. They were promptly transferred to a nearby medical facility for standard evaluation and observation.
Aircraft Background
As reported by the Times Now news website, the Royal Malaysian Air Force operates a fleet of eight F/A-18D Hornet aircraft. The first of these jets was delivered to Malaysia in 1997 and has since been a part of the nation’s aerial defense capabilities. An investigation into the cause of the engine fire and subsequent crash is underway.
