PETALING JAYA: The site of the plane crash - Elmina Township in Shah Alam was also the site of another air crash back in 1977.
On Sept 27, 1977, a McDonnell Douglas aircraft of Japan Airlines Flight 715 also crashed at the site - then known as Elmina Estate - some 6km from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport in Subang, formerly known as Subang International Airport.
At that time the site was a rubber plantation.
The plane was on its way from Kai Tak International Airport in Hong Kong to Subang.
The crash killed 34 people of the 79 people onboard. There were 43 survivors.
The aircraft had struck a 91m hill during a thunderstorm.
Airport officials said some of the survivors were brought from the crash scene to the Kuala Lumpur airport by helicopter. The plane was due to stop in Kuala Lumpur before flying on to Singapore.
According to reports, alerted by the control tower of heavy rains and thunderstorms near the airport. The pilot agreed to the controller's suggestion that he fly on to Singapore, to the South
Then, all contact was lost. All planes in the area were then alerted to look out for the JAL jet.
A few minutes later the captain of a Malaysian Airlines plane reported sighting a huge ball of fire north of the airport.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
Starpix By : C.H. Loh Date : 29.09.1977 Rescuers look in wonder at a piece of the plane which ended up on a broken tree.
Date : 27.09.1977 Japan Airlines DC-8. The aircraft struck a 300 feet hill, 4 miles short of the runway while on a VOR approach to runway 15. The aircraft had descended below MDA of 750 feet.
Starpix By : C.H. Loh Date : 28.09.1977 An injured person being carried on a stretcher.
Japan Airlines DC-8 crash at Elmina Estate. C.T.Fong Date28.09.1977
Starpix By : C.H. Loh Date : 29.09.1977 Rescuers look in wonder at a piece of the plane which ended up a broken tree.The aircraft struck a 300 feet hill, 4 miles short of the runway while on a VOR approach to runway 15. The aircraft had descended below MDA of 750 feet.
Japan Airlines DC-8 crashed in a rubber-oil plantation, Elmina Estate about 20 miles from Rawang on 27.09.1977 at about 6.45pm. Date: 28.09.1977
Rescure men at DC-8 crash site. Pix by: C.H.Loh Reporter: Sugu Date: 28.09.1977 Japan Airlines DC-8 crash at Elimina Estate, Rawang. The aircraft struck a 300 feet hill, 4 miles short of the runway while on a VOR approach to runway 15. The aircraft had descended below MDA of 750 feet.
Pix By : C.T. Fong Air Disaster - Japan Airlines NOTES: 50TH MERDEKA SUPPLEMENT 2007
Japan Airlines DC-8 crashed at Elmina Estate. Pix by: C.H.Loh Date: 28.09.1977
