A Beechcraft private plane crashed, leaving up to 10 people dead. Malaysian authorities, on Thursday, confirmed that the plane collided with a motorcycle and a car during its failed landing attempt on a highway.
The jet in question, identified as a Beechcraft Model 390 (Premier 1) aircraft, was a light private business jet. It was transporting eight people, including six passengers and two crew members, from Langkawi to Selangor, situated west of Kuala Lumpur.
Selangor’s police chief, Hussein Omar Khan, stated that the aircraft had obtained clearance to land and maintained communication until just moments before the crash. Surprisingly, “there was no emergency call,” he added.
Eyewitness Accounts and Ongoing Investigation
Local Malaysian news agency Berita Harian reported the crash’s immediate aftermath, citing the police chief. As per the report, after plummeting, the jet struck a car and a motorcycle, each having a single occupant.
A statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia provided a timeline: Initial contact with Subang Air Traffic Control Tower was at 2:47 pm local time, and just four minutes later, smoke was observed emanating from the crash site. No distress signal or mayday call was received from the aircraft.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke emphasized the need for a thorough investigation. “We cannot determine the cause of the crash at this point, as investigations are underway,” he said.
Eyewitnesses to the crash described harrowing scenes. An on-site engineer recounted hearing a blast before rushing to the crash site, where he discovered injured individuals. Mohamad Syahmie Mohamad Hashim, previously with the Malaysian Air Force, described the aircraft’s erratic behaviour shortly before hearing a devastating boom.
Authorities are now pursuing the aircraft’s black box, hoping it might reveal insights into the tragic event’s cause. Current efforts are focused on victim identification, with forensic teams hard at work. As stated by Khan, all recovered remains will undergo a post-mortem examination and identification process at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.
