THE Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the crash of a Hawk 108 fighter jet at the Butterworth RMAF base last night.

RMAF deputy chief, Lt-Gen Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, however, declined to comment further on the incident but said the probe will be conducted immediately.

“We will conduct a detailed investigation but other than that, I am unable to comment,” he told reporters at the Seberang Jaya Hospital (HSJ) compound early this morning.

When asked about the condition of the injured pilot, he declined to provide details.

Meanwhile, Bernama’s checks at the hospital’s forensics department and emergency ward found police and RMAF personnel present from 8am.

However, the next of kin and close family members of the victim were not seen in the hospital’s compound, which is tightly guarded to curb the spread of Covid-19.

It is understood that the hospital will conduct a post-mortem on the victim this morning.

In the 10pm incident, one pilot was killed and another injured when the Hawk jet, which was on a night training flight, crashed.

In a statement, RMAF identified the two pilots as Major Mohd Fareez Omar and Capt Mohamad Affendi Bustamy.

It said Affendi was killed in the crash whereas Fareez sustained injuries but was in a stable condition and being treated in HSJ. – Bernama, November 17, 2021.