A small plane crashed on a highway near Shah Alam within the Malaysian state of Selangor on Thursday, killing 10 people, including an assemblyman.
“For now, I can say that at least 10 people died in the plane crash. Two passing drivers – one in a car and the other on a motorcycle – were also killed along with eight people on board the plane, Shah Alam district police chief Mohamad Iqbal Ibrahim told AFP.
The private plane carrying six passengers and two crew members was en route from the resort island of Langkawi to Subang Airport in Selangor when it crashed at around 2.10pm, just before it was scheduled to land.
The plane lost contact with the air traffic control tower and hit a motorcycle and a car on the highway, Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan told reporters. “No help was called, the plane was cleared to land,” he added.
Photos and videos on social media platforms show a burnt section of the highway with smoke pouring out of it.
The plane reportedly fell to the ground and exploded on impact, Free Malaysia Today reported, citing China Press.
Among the dead was Pelangai assemblyman from Pahang, Johari Harun.
Local politicians, including United Malays National Organization (UMNO) communications director Lokman Adam, expressed their condolences on social media.
‘I’m going to blow up the plane’: arrest following bomb threat on board Malaysia Airlines flight from Sydney
‘I’m going to blow up the plane’: arrest following bomb threat on board Malaysia Airlines flight from Sydney
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said the plane made first contact with the air traffic control tower in Subang at 2:47 p.m. and was cleared to land at 2:48 p.m.
“At 2:51 p.m., the air traffic control tower in Subang observed smoke coming from the crash site, but the aircraft did not issue a may signal,” CAAM chief executive Norazman Mahmud said in an announcement.
CAAM said the flight was operated by Jet Valet, a Malaysian private air services company.
Norazman later told a news conference that preliminary findings showed the plane was airworthy and had all needed registrations and licenses. He also said the 2 pilots on board the plane were experienced.
On Thursday evening, Transport Minister Anthony Loke told reporters that authorities were still trying to find the plane’s black box.
He declined to take a position on the reason behind the accident.
“I cannot comment on the matter now because the investigation remains to be ongoing. I hope people aren’t speculating in regards to the accident.
However, he shared that the plane veered to the proper from the planned flight path.
Malaysia reveals pilot, airline failures caused fatal 1976 crash
Malaysia reveals pilot, airline failures caused fatal 1976 crash
The transport minister also read the names of the passengers and crew from the manifest, but said the identities of the bodies needed to be verified through forensic examination.
The bodies were taken to Klang Hospital in Selangor.
Meanwhile, Selangor police chief said efforts were underway to discover the motorcyclist and the automobile driver.
