RMAF PILOT KILLED AFTER AEROBATIC SHOW WENT AWRY

SINTOK (Malaysia), March 25 (Bernama) -- A pilot was killed when a Royal
Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) PC-7 MK II aircraft crashed after an aerobatic show
went awry, much to the horror of thousands of spectators.

The aircraft exploded in midair and crashed in a jungle near Northern
University of Malaysia sports complex here at 10.15am Thursday.

Major Muhammed Zulrihan Jusof, a trainer at RMAF Flying College in Kepala
Batas near Alor Setar was killed on the spot.

A Defence Ministry statement said the aircraft piloted by Zulrihan left RMAF
base in Kepala Batas at 10.03am.

The RMAF search and rescue team which found Zulrihan's body not far from the
aircraft used a Nuri helicopter to airlift it form the jungle area.

The body was sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar for a
post-mortem, the statement said.

Zulrihan who was from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, leaves wife Wizana Abdul Ghani
and three children.

He joined RMAF on Feb 25, 1991 and served as flying trainer at the Flying
College since Jan 1, 2008.

A board of inquiry had been set up to investigate the cause of the crash,
RMAF said in a statement Thursday.

"Air Force Chief General Rodzali Daud and the RMAF extend
condolences to his wife, children and family.

"RMAF values his sacrifices and services in defending the sovereignty and
mantaining the country's peace," he added.

Zulrihan who was doing a solo show to mark UUM's 23rd convocation was
attempting a difficult manoeuvre when the aircraft crashed.

"After about 300 metres from the sports complex, the aircraft made two
manoeuvres, ascended 90 degrees and suddenly came sliding down," said Azlan
Jamaluddin, 26, a former UUM student.

Azlan who was about 500 metres from the crach site said he heard two big
explosions before the aircraft crashed.

UUM College of Arts and Science student Siti Fatimah Kamal, 22, said she and
her friends saw the aircraft ascending 90 degrees and them came crashing down.

"We heard two explosions and fled to safety," she said.

UUM Islamic Banking student Mohd Amin Ahmad, 21, said he and several friends
also saw the aircraft crashed.

"We heard several explosions and ran for cover. We managed to help the
others but UUM security guards arrived and ordered us to leave," he said.
Mohd Amin said he saw the pilot not far from the crashed aircraft.

Kedah CID Chief ACP Zakaria Ahmad who visited the scene said he was told of
the crash at 10.15am.

"I immediately directed security agencies to go to the scene to help RMAF,"
he said.

-- BERNAMA