SHAH ALAM: A RMAF CN-235 air-lifter ditched next to the shoreline at Kuala Selangor, this morning. The eight crew members escaped with minor injuries.
The CN-235-220M – M44-07 – was taking part in the flypast rehearsals for the Colours Award ceremony scheduled for Monday when it developed mechanical trouble about 8.40am.
The flight crew made a text-book water landing just metres from mangrove forest surrounding the area. From the pictures circulating, it appears that the port engine caught fire, which led to the ditching.
The site of the ditching is about 57 kilometres from Subang airbase where the CN-235 took off with three other aircraft, a Beechcraft B200T King Air and two Hercules at about 7.20am. Although the crew members survived – the co-pilot broke his arm – a local fisherman drowned when he got stuck in the mud in the attempt to rescue them.
The stricken plane was part of the transport aircraft formation that was supposed to conduct the flypast rehearsal at Subang airbase at about 9.20am. Because of the crash, the flypast rehearsal for today (Feb 26, 2016) was cancelled. Today’s rehearsal was supposed to be the third time the flypast rehearsal was conducted ahead of the Monday’s ceremony.
In the flypast, the transport aircraft is preceded by the rotary formation and concluded with the fast jets.
On Monday, four RMAF flight squadrons, the 16th, 17th, 18th and 20th and the RMAF Regiment (Paskau) are to receive their colours from the RMAF Colonel-in-Chief the Sultan of Pahang.
The rotary formation of the flypast consists of two EC725/H225M and a Nuri. The formation will also performed the closing gambit at the end of the parade.
The fast jet formation consists of two each of the Hawk Mk 108s, F/A-18D Hornet, MIG-29N Fulcrum and Su-30MKM.
It is likely that the colour ceremony and flypast will take place as scheduled on Monday though it is likely that the CN235 will not take part.
No 1 Squadron which flies the CN235s is headquartered in Kuching though at least 2 aircraft – the two VIP variants – 07 and 08 – are normally based in Subang. With the loss of 07, the CN235 fleet is now reduced to seven aircraft.
— Malaysian Defence
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Marhalim,
I thought the 21 skuadron has been renumbered to 1 skuadron years ago by a special “pekeliling” from the airforce chief?
Which is why I was surprised that they stood up another new squadron the 22 skuadron for the a400m despite what happened to the 21 skuadron saga.
Reply
Yes my mistake. Fix it. 21 Skuadron exists on paper now
Kesian dan takziah kepada keluarga nelayan yang meninggal dunia menyelamatkan krew TUDM. Semoga keluarganya diberi pampasan sewajarnya
Alhamdulillah
All the crew survived
Seorang nelayan terkorban menyelamatkan mereka?
Takziah, semoga kerajaan memberikan perghormatan dan penghargaan yang setimpal kepada beliau.
Tahniah juga kepada kru2 pesawat yang berjaya menurunkan pesawat dengan cara yang terbaik.
This incident just showed that humans are capable of great things.
A man died trying to help others. Strangers. Idk wat is more honorable.
Al-fatihah kepada arwah.