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Friday March 26, 2010

RMAF pilot crashes and dies during solo performance

embun@thestar.com.my

ALOR STAR: More than 1,000 Universiti Utara Malaysia students and their parents watched in horror as a Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) Pilatus PC-7 MK II aircraft exploded in mid-air, killing the pilot during an air show.

Mejar Zulrihan Yusoh’s body was found some 10m from his aircraft which had crashed into the university’s forest research area at 10.15am. He was still strapped to his seat.

It was believed that the 33-year-old pilot had managed to eject from the plane but could not save himself as the aircraft was flying too low.

Mejar Zulrihan, who flew his aircraft from the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport to the university at 10.03am, had performed two acrobatic manoeuvres just before the crash.

Freak accident: The wreckage of a RMAF Pilatus PC-7 MK II aircraft (inset) burning in the Universiti Utara Malaysia’s forest research area after it crashed in Kedah Thursday.

The air show was held in conjunction with the opening ceremony of the university’s 23rd convocation and expo at its sports complex here yesterday.

Spectators who heard the explosion and the black smoke thought it was part of the air show and remained seated until the plane plunged and crashed some 200m from the sports complex.

“I saw the plane plunge towards the forest area before it exploded for the second time. I rushed to the place but could not see the plane as it was among trees and bushes,” said student Mohd Amin Ahmad, 21.

Another student, Muhamd Fairuz Mohd Mokhtar, 22, said he and his friends were excited over the air show as it was the first time it was held at the university’s ground.

“Many of us screamed when we realised that the plane had crashed,” he said.

Mohd Aslam Othman, 23, said he rushed to check on the pilot but could not find him.

“The plane was on fire and I heard several people calling out for the pilot but there was no answer,” he said.

Kedah Fire and Rescue Depart­ment operation officer Ahmad Zamri Chik said firemen took about 10 minutes to put out the fire.

“After we put out the fire, RMAF personnel searched for the pilot and found his body 10m from the wreckage,” he said.

Mejar Zulrihan’s body was flown to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for a post-mortem.

“We will set up an investigation board to identify the cause of the accident,” the RMAF said in a statement.

Mejar Zulrihan joined the force on Feb 25, 1991 and served at the RMAF College in Kepala Batas, Alor Setar since Jan 1, 2008. He is survived by his wife Wizani Abd Ghani and three children.

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