SHAH ALAM: A Pilatus PC-7 Mk II turbo=prop trainer made an emergency landing in a paddy field near Alor Setar, Kedah early this morning. Both crew, Lt Kol Mutalib Abdul Wahab, 46, and Mejar Tan Thian Khim, 34, walked away from the crash.

As usual not much information were given out by RMAF apart that the aircraft took off at 7.26am from the Alor Setar air base and the plane made the emergency landing 20 minutes later.

Based on the pilot’s ranks I believed that they were either conducting a test flight or one of them was on a familiarisation flight. From the TV3 news broadcast of the scene, the plane was intact and could be returned to service after major servicing.

The National New Agency, Bernama reported that the aircraft was part of the nine Pilatus Mk II which entered service in 1982 and none have crashed so far. Bernama got it wrong on the year and crash record.

The Mk IIs joined RMAF in 2000 and one had already crashed in 2001 as I had mentioned in the previous posting.

— Malaysian Defence