KUALA LUMPUR: The mystery over a supposed "plane crash" which took place at sea near Pulau Tikus, fronting the Flamingo Hotel, in Tanjung Bungah here on Sunday, continues to deepen.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) today clarified that all flights operating on that day concerning the area in question, including private flights, were safe and accounted for.
CAAM chief executive officer Captain Chester Voo said thorough checks showed that all flights were operating safely and within the approved parameters.
Its systems did not detect any activation of Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) around the area where the crash was alleged to have taken place.
"CAAM wishes to clarify that our systems did not detect any activation of Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) around the area reported," he said in a statement.
The ELT is a beacon used on vehicles such as aircraft and ships, usually used to signal for aid in times of distress. Depending on application, it may be automatically activated by impact or be activated manually.
"CAAM will continue to monitor the situation and should there be any update on this, all agencies involved will be informed accordingly," he said.
Police were alerted on Sunday afternoon that an aircraft had crashed into the sea near Pulau Tikus.
Preliminary information suggested that it could have been a private aircraft.
A search and rescue (SAR) mission, comprising Marine police, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Civil Defence Force, was immediately activated after the report was received at about 2pm.
However, nothing was found.
Police have so far recorded statements from 10 individuals, including three people who allegedly witnessed the incident.
Police said the three. who were sitting 20m apart from one another, claimed to have seen an object resembling a "black matchstick box" falling from the sky before crashing into the sea.
They also claimed that an object which looked like a balloon appeared before it sank. - NST
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