KUALA LUMPUR – The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has confirmed that no distress calls were recorded from the BK160 Gabriel light aircraft which crashed near Kapar, Selangor, today.
In a statement, CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Norazmam Mahmud said that the aircraft operated by the Air Adventure Flying Club had departed from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang at 1.28pm for a “recreational flight.”
“Last contact made by the aircraft with air control was 1.35pm, however, there was no distress call received.
“The Kuala Lumpur Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (KLARCC) at the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (KLATCC) was immediately activated to determine the location of the aircraft,” Norazman said.
He added that a total of two individuals, including a pilot, were onboard the aircraft with an I-POOC registration number. Their condition has yet to be confirmed as of press time.
“The safety investigation will be conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry in accordance with Part 26 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016.”
Earlier, eyewitness accounts showed the wreckage of the plane scattered in what appears to be a palm oil plantation estate, with a large portion of debris from the plane found somewhere near SK Tok Muda Kapar.
The Fire and Rescue Department, in a statement, said that they received a report on the incident at 1.56pm, and arrived at the scene 20 minutes later.
Search operations have been initiated. There have been no reports of casualties so far. – February 13, 2024