US experts to help in Elmina crash investigation

Clean up in progress: Members of the Fire and Rescue Department clearing debris from the crash. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star

SHAH ALAM: US aviation experts will assist the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in its investigation into Thursday’s plane crash that killed 10 people near the Elmina Township here.

Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said these experts will inspect the Beechcraft 390 wreckage as part of the investigation into the cause of the crash.

“They are expected to examine the wreckage, which is by the road shoulder along Persiaran Elmina on Monday.

“Until then we will station personnel at the scene to conduct 24-hour surveillance to ensure it remains undisturbed,” he said when contacted.

ACP Mohd Iqbal said the site has been cleared of human remains and personal belongings.

“The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) has also been retrieved and all evidence at the scene has been tagged,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Fire and Rescue Department’s Shah Alam Zone deputy chief Samsol Maarof Saibani said Persiaran Elmina has been cleared.

“The search operation for human remains and aircraft debris has been ordered to stand down by the police.

“Our department personnel used three fire engines to clean the road in both directions,” he told reporters at the scene, adding that the road is safe for use after the oil and fuel spillage was completely cleaned up.

In a statement yesterday, Prolintas, the concessionaire for the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), said the Elmina Interchange of GCE, the main exit and entrance route to Elmina, has been reopened to users since 3.40pm.

“The reopened route involves the entrance ramp from Shah Alam to Elmina west, and the entrance ramp to Elmina east from Rawang, along with the exit ramp to Shah Alam.

“One of the two lanes of the road from Elmina west to Rawang is still closed for the authorities to carry on with investigations at the scene of the incident. Nevertheless, users can still access the highway.

“A GCE operations team has been to the incident location to observe the damage and is currently carrying out immediate road repairs. Street cleaning had also been carried out by the Fire and Rescue Department team earlier,” said Prolintas.