The wreckage of what is believed to be the RMAF Hawk MK108 combat aircraft that crashed at 10.07pm last night seen here at Butterworth Royal Malaysian Air Force Base, Butterworth, November 17, 2021. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin
SEBERANG PERAI, Nov 17 — Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has confirmed that there was one fatality in the crash involving a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Hawk MK108 combat aircraft in Butterworth tonight.
He also said that a second airman sustained injuries in the incident that occurred at about 10.07pm last night at the runway within the Butterworth Air Force Base.
“I just received a call from Air Force Chief General Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad informing me of the incident involving the Hawk 108 aircraft that crashed in Butterworth. One airman was killed; another was injured,” Hishammuddin said in a brief Facebook post late last night.
“The RMAF has been ordered to submit a detailed report and investigate the cause of the accident immediately,” he added, before extending his condolences to the family of the airman who was killed.
“The Ministry of Defence has been ordered to provide all the necessary assistance to the families of the two airmen involved.”
The RMAF had issued a brief statement at 11.23pm last night confirming the incident, saying that it wanted to dispel any speculation over the incident.
“The RMAF is taking immediate action now and will reveal the latest development with regards to the incident soon,” it read.
The RMAF advised the public to refrain from spreading any fake news or speculation about the incident.