Kuantan, Pahang – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed a comprehensive investigation into the crash of a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport on Thursday night (Aug 21). While expressing concern for the two airmen involved, he emphasised the need to determine the cause and strengthen safety measures.
Anwar, in a statement on X on Friday morning, conveyed his prayers for the speedy recovery of the servicemen, stressing that their treatment and well-being remain the government’s priority.
The incident occurred at around 9.05pm during take-off on the shared runway used by both the airport and the Kuantan airbase. Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman confirmed that the pilot and weapons system officer were safe after ejecting before impact. They were immediately taken to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital for medical checks.
The RMAF identified the officers as 34-year-old Major Mohamad Azhar Alang Kamarudin and 28-year-old Captain Mohammad Izzudin Mohamad Salleh. In a statement, the air force assured that immediate measures were being taken and urged the public to refrain from spreading speculation or unverified information. Video clips circulating online showed the jet’s engine bursting into flames moments before the crash.
Local residents reported hearing an unusually loud explosion at the time. “We are used to hearing loud sounds from training, but this was louder than usual,” said Khairul Azli Syahmie Abdul Aziz, a resident of Taman Pandan Perdana, located two kilometres from the airport.
The crash marks the first major loss of an RMAF Hornet since the aircraft entered service in 1997. The air force currently operates a fleet of eight two-seat F/A-18D Hornets, originally acquired from McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). While the fleet has faced previous technical issues—including a runway skid in Kuching in 2003, a landing gear malfunction in 2017, and a turbine failure at the 2019 Langkawi airshow—none had resulted in a crash until now.
Authorities are expected to release further details as investigations progress, with the government reiterating its zero-compromise stance on flight safety and operational readiness.
