THE Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet that has crashed while taking off from Kuantan Air Base on Thursday (Aug 21) night is believed to have suffered an engine malfunction.
Armed Forces chief general Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar said early analysis of photos and videos from the incident indicates the crash was not caused by human error but more likely by technical issues.
“Based on the analysis of images and videos during take-off, the crash was not due to human factors but rather technical problems with the aircraft,” he said.
The two crew members – a 34-year-old pilot and a 28-year-old weapons system officer – survived after ejecting from the aircraft before it exploded and was destroyed at 9.05pm.
Mohd Nizam stressed that the investigation board will thoroughly review the maintenance records of all F/A-18D Hornets in service to detect any potential systemic issues.
“We will analyse every possibility because each aircraft has detailed maintenance records,” he explained, adding that the upgraded software systems were expected to operate reliably.
Rejecting public claims that the Hornets are “second-hand” or “flying coffins”, Mohd Nizam clarified that Malaysia purchased the jets brand new from the United States about 20 years ago.
“Do not link this aircraft with the recent procurement from Kuwait. These Hornets were acquired first-hand, not second-hand,” he stressed.
The investigation continues, with a focus on confirming the exact technical cause of the crash.
The Armed Forces has temporarily suspended operations of all F/A-18D Hornet fighter jets following Thursday night’s crash at Kuantan Air Base.
The Armed Forces Chief also said the move is a precautionary step and part of standard operating procedure to allow a thorough investigation and prevent possible risks to other aircraft.
He assured that Malaysia’s defence readiness remains unaffected, with air defence systems and coordination with the army and navy continuing as normal.
“While the Hornets are grounded, national security operations proceed as usual, and this incident does not compromise our defence,” he said.
The affected jet, which caught fire and was destroyed after take-off, was originally expected to operate until 2035 under a maintenance programme beginning in 2024. — Aug 23, 2025
Main photo credit: Malay Mail
