RMAF loses Hornet on takeoff - Crew safe

[GTX]

Happened overnight - no specifics on cause yet though it does look like an engine failure or similar at the worst time:

Air force fighter jet involved in incident at Kuantan airbase

The Royal Malaysian Air Force says the incident involving an F/A-18D Hornet occurred at 9.05pm on the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport runway.

www.freemalaysiatoday.com

Video included in story.

 

[NMaude]

At least the crew were able to safely eject. If it is engine failure maybe it was FOD induced?

 

[isayyo2]

Glad the crew is safe.

Kuwaiti Hornets can’t come soon enough…

 

[GTX]

Aircraft was M45-07

 

[GTX]

Crash pictures:

 

[GTX]

Malaysia’s F/A-18D Hornet Accident Linked to Deadly Bird Strike, Not Technical Failure - Defence Security Asia

RMAF confirms F/A-18D Hornet crash at Kuantan Air Base was caused by a purple heron bird strike during take-off, not technical failure. Both pilots ejected safely, with investigations conducted alongside STRIDE, Perhilitan, and the US Navy.

defencesecurityasia.com

Kuantan fighter jet crash due to bird strike, says RMAF chief

Norazlan Aris says the incident, which happened last month, involved a large purple heron.

www.freemalaysiatoday.com