CAAM finds no evidence of sabotage on Dr M's plane

PETALING JAYA: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has not found any indication that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's plane was sabotaged.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman (pic) said that the aircraft was unable to fly due to air leakage from the left hand nose wheel, which is a minor and routine technical fault.

"Allegations of sabotage against an aircraft are extremely serious and could impact the reputation of Malaysian aviation and the country as a whole, especially in this sensitive general election period.

"It is morally wrong to make such wild and false allegation for the sake of political gain," he said in a statement on Saturday (April 28).

Dr Mahathir, who is the Pakatan Harapan chairman, had claimed on Friday that the plane he had boarded for a flight to Langkawi was sabotaged.

He claimed that just before takeoff, the pilot announced that the plane had been damaged and immediate repairs could not be made.

"I should have arrived in Langkawi before Friday prayers but the plane was damaged. Luckily, the pilot was able to detect the damage – if not I would have died in a crash," he said.

The government ordered an immediate investigation into his claims.