‘We hit something’ – pilot unaware of crash after landing clearance at Subang airport

Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook (third from right) at a press conference on his ministry’s preliminary findings on an accident at the Subang airport last month.

PUTRAJAYA: A Berjaya Air aircraft which was involved in a fatal collision with a car on the runway of the Subang airport last month had been given landing clearance by the control tower despite the presence of two vehicles, authorities investigating the incident said in their preliminary report today.

The report noted that the crew had exclaimed “We hit something” seconds after landing, but a cockpit recording suggests that they were not aware that the plane had hit a Perodua Kembara, killing its driver.

“In-depth investigation on the SOP for vehicles operating on the runway will be conducted, especially on special equipment that needs to be in the vehicle when it enters the runway, such as radio communication equipment and rotating beacons,” the transport ministry said in a statement on its preliminary findings today.

Mohd Ruzaimi Iskandar Ahmad Razali, 39, succumbed to injuries two days after the incident which occurred in the wee hours of the morning on March 18.

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