Beautrice OhA private aircraft crashed onto a highway near Shah Alam in Selangor, Malaysia on 17 August at around 3pm. This tragedy has resulted in the deaths of 10 people, including a Malaysian state assemblyman.
The private jet was carrying six passengers and two crew members, flying into Subang Airport from Langkawi. It had lost contact with air traffic control just before its scheduled landing time and crashed into a car and motorcycle on the highway, causing an explosion and fire. The Shah Alam district police chief, Mohamad Iqbal Ibrahim reported that “at least 10 people were killed in the plane crash, two passing motorists — one in a car and one on a motorcycle — perished together with the eight on board the plane.”
Image credit: azmilwhornus
Photos and videos of the aftermath of the crash on social media showed the crash site shrouded in thick, black fumes and a section of the highway burnt, covered in debris. According to the China Press, the aircraft suddenly plummeted to the ground and exploded upon impact.
According to the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority, the aircraft made initial contact with the air traffic control but did not issue a mayday call. While it was reported that the plane veered off from its intended path, investigations into the details of the crash are still undergoing. The identities of the victims, including Pahang’s Pelangai assemblyman Johari Harun, are being confirmed through forensic tests at the Klang Hospital in Selangor. The Selangor police chief said that they were also working to identify the two motorists.
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke declined to speculate on the cause of the crash and urged the public to refrain from making assumptions while investigations are still ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with the victims and the families of this tragedy.
Featured image credit: azmilwhornus
