KUALA LUMPUR 15 June – Two pilots of the fighter aircraft, Hawk 108, from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Major Yazmi Datuk Mohamed Yusof, 39, and Major Mohd. Hasri Zahari, 31, were found dead in a swamp forest in Chukai Terengganu this afternoon.
Chief of RMAF, General Datuk Seri Affendi Buang said, the two pilots were found dead even though they had attempted to save their lives by using ejection seats.
Yazmi had served RMAF for 19 years while Mohd. Hasri for 13 years.
In an RMAF press statement today, Affendi said, the body of the aircraft has not been found.
The remains of the two RMAF pilots were carried out from the forest and taken by EC 725 helicopter from No.10. Squadron, Kuantan Air Base to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan for post mortems.
“ RMAF aircraft will take the body of Yazmi from Kuantan Air Base to Subang Air Base tomorrow morning. He will be buried at Titiwangsa Islamic Cemetery near his siblings’ residence in Taman Tasek Titiwangsa Kuala Lumpur.
“The body of Mohd. Hasri will be flown directly from Kuantan Air Base to Bandar Baru Jempol Negeri Sembilan and will be buried at Islamic Cemetary in Felda Lui Muda.
“RMAF will also set up an Investigation Board to find out more details about the fatal incident,” said Affendi.
Earlier in the morning, RMAF in a statement said that one fighter aircraft Hawk 108 was feared missing around north of Kuantan, Pahang near the border between Terengganu and Pahang.
The press statement added, the aircraft left Kuantan Air Base at 11 a.m and had lost contact with the air base at 11.30a.m. RMAF then activated its search and rescue operations. – Malaysia World News
