An F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) exploded and crashed during takeoff at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan on Thursday night (21).
According to an official RMAF statement, the incident occurred at around 9:05 p.m. during a night training exercise. The aircraft caught fire immediately after the attempted takeoff.
The pilot and the weapons systems officer successfully ejected and were taken to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, where they are undergoing medical evaluation.
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The Air Force stated that it is already conducting an investigation into the causes of the accident and urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information.
Witnesses reported a loud explosion followed by flames and smoke, which were visible even in areas near the airport.
The RMAF fleet currently includes eight F/A-18D Hornet fighters, acquired in the 1990s, and used in strategic air defense operations and attack missions.
Source and images: RMAF | Wikimedia | X @aviationbrk. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
