10 Killed in Plane Crash on a Highway in Malaysia
NEW DELHI, Aug 17: At least 10 people were killed when a private light plane crashed on a four-lane highway in Malaysia and hit a car and motorbike on the road before turning into flames on Thursday.
The terrifying moment just before the plane crashed was captured by a dashcam in a car which was scooting through the highway. Eight people on board the plane and two motorists on the ground were killed in the accident.
The plane crashed on the ground and exploded, turning into a huge fire ball, the chilling clip showed. Soon, black smoke was seen billowing from the wreckage. Visuals from the crash site showed debris scattered around and houses could be seen in the background.
“For now, I can say at least 10 people were killed in the plane crash. Two passing motorists — one in a car and one on a motorcycle — also perished together with the eight on board the plane,” police said. Johari Harun, a state assemblyman in central Pahang state in charge of housing and the environment, was among the plane passengers killed, they said.
The plane took off from the northern resort island of Langkawi and was heading to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, west of the capital Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s civil aviation authority said in a statement that six passengers and two flight crew were on board the aircraft when it crashed.
“No mayday call was made,” said civil aviation authority chief Norazman Mahmud. Mohamad Syahmie Mohamad Hashim, a former member of the Malaysian air force, said he saw the plane flying erratically. “Not long after that I heard a loud boom,” he said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
