19-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) The recent tragic crash of a light aircraft on the Guthrie Highway near the Elmina township in Shah Alam, Selangor has drawn attention to potential wing-related issues as the cause, according to Terengganu chief minister Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, an aerospace engineer by profession.
In a detailed Facebook post, Dr Ahmad, who previously headed the Aerospace Department of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), stated that based on publicly available visual evidence, the problem could stem from either a failure in the aileron or a combination of failures in the rudder and elevator controls.
“Based solely on the visual evidence, which includes dashboard camera footage with its inherent limitations, it is my inclination to believe that the core issue lies in the ‘flight control’ domain, specifically pertaining to the wings. This could potentially be attributed to either aileron failure or a combination of rudder and elevator failures,” he explained.
However, Dr Ahmad also acknowledged that the aircraft failures could have multiple origins, including maintenance issues, structural integrity failures, engine malfunctions, flight control problems, avionics complications, and human factors.
He stressed the need for further investigation to determine the precise cause of the incident, including analysis of the flight black box, findings from the crash site investigation, and thorough examination of the parts and debris on both micro and macro levels.
Malaysian air accident investigators are currently analyzing the cockpit voice recorder of the light plane to gather crucial information.
Expressing his condolences, Dr Ahmad extended heartfelt sympathy to the families of the ten individuals who lost their lives in the crash.
“On behalf of the people of Terengganu, I offer my sincerest condolences to the families of the victims. May Allah SWT bless their souls,” he said.
The aircraft involved in the tragedy was a Beechcraft Model 390 (Premier 1) light business jet flying from Langkawi to the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang. The accident occurred at approximately 2:50 pm on Thursday, resulting in the tragic deaths of all six passengers and two crew members on board.
Among the victims were two civilians, a motorcyclist and a car driver who happened to be passing by the scene at the time of the crash.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain has announced that the process of managing the victims’ remains is expected to be completed by Monday.
