KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 17): Ten people have been killed as a small private jet crashed near Bandar Elmina, Shah Alam in Selangor on Thursday (Aug 17), including Pahang state executive councillor Datuk Johari Harun, according to Bernama.
The news wire, quoting Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, wrote that the aircraft — a Beechcraft Model 390 (Premier 1) with the registration number N28JV — was carrying six passengers and two flight crew when it crashed into the road and hit a car and motorcycle coming from Bukit Jelutong heading towards the Guthrie Highway. All died on impact.
He said the aircraft was flying from Langkawi to Subang, with landing clearance given at about 2.50pm. “However, two minutes before landing, the plane lost control and hit a motorcycle and a car as it crashed on the road," he was quoted as telling reporters at the scene.
The Fire and Rescue Department took 10 minutes to put out the fire, and all the bodies of the victims, believed to be in their 40s and 50s, have been found and would be sent to Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) Klang for a post-mortem. The cockpit voice recorder, a part of the black box of the crashed plane, have also been found.
Following the crash, Young Syefura Othman, DAP Member of Parliament for Bentong, posted on social media that she was saddened by the loss of her colleague Johari Harun, who was the assemblyman of Pelangai, a state constituency within the parliamentary seat of Bentong.
"I am very sad about this loss. Just two days ago, I was with the late Datuk Seri Jo discussing the development in Bentong and Pelangai that would be planned later," she posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
His demise was also confirmed by Pahang state assembly speaker Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, who uploaded two pictures of him and Johari on his official instagram account, while praying for the late exco and Umno Bentong chief, according to Bernama.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), which confirmed the crash earlier via a statement, the aircraft was operated by Jet Valet Sdn Bhd, which departed from the Langkawi International Airport at 2:08pm for the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.
“The first contact made by the aircraft with the Subang Air Traffic Control Tower was at 2:47pm and landing clearance was given at 2:48pm. At 2:51pm, the Subang Air Traffic Control Tower observed smoke originating from the crash site but no mayday call was made by the aircraft,” said CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud.
According to the Companies Commission of Malaysia, Jet Valet’s shareholders are Datuk Sulaiman @ Muhamed Helmi Mohd Ilyas and Mohamed Ilyas Pakeer Mohamed, who each own 50% equity interest in the company.
Meanwhile, Jet Valet has confirmed receiving a report on the incident and pledges to give its full commitment and cooperation in the investigation. “Currently, Jet Valet could not confirm any other details officially including the loss of lives as it is awaiting confirmation from the authorities. All latest information and developments will be announced from time to time,” the company was reported as saying, based on a statement.
The exit and entry to the Elmina Interchange in both directions from the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) have been temporarily closed following the incident.