Retired fighter pilot killed in light aircraft crash in Ipoh

IPOH: A 52-year-old flight instructor was killed when the light airplane he was in crashed near a pumphouse on Jalan Dr Nazrin Shah here.

Perak police chief Comm Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the body of Mejar (retired) Fajim Juffa Mustafa Kamal was taken out of the wrecked airplane at about 9.20pm.

ALSO READ: Light aircraft crashes in Ipoh, two victims trapped

"Another flying instructor Muhammad Din Fikri Zainal Abidin, 62, who was also in the plane survived and has been rushed to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for treatment.

"We are still investigating the cause of the incident," he told reporters when met near the crash site on Monday (Aug 1).

ALSO READ: Pilot who cheated death among astronaut hopefuls

Mejar Fajim first flew for the Malaysia Air Force before retiring and become a pilot for the private sector in 2018.

In 2004 he survived a crash when the MiG-29 fighter he was flying developed engine problems and in 2005 he was one of the hopefuls to become Malaysia's first astronaut.

ALSO READ: Thorough investigation on Ipoh plane crash underway, says Dr Wee

It was reported earlier that the state Fire and Rescue Department had received a distress call about the incident at about 8.10pm.

Comm Mior Faridalathrash said that both families have been informed.

"We believed that they were flying from a nearby flying school.

"The victims are from Semenyih and Bukit Damansara respectively," he said.