Kuantan: The two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers piloting the F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet successfully executed emergency ejection procedures before the aircraft crashed at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport late last night.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, RMAF Chief Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris reported that the pilot, Major Mohamad Azhar Alang Kamarudin, 34, sustained back injuries and minor burns to his left heel, while the co-pilot, Weapons Systems officer Captain Mohamad Izzuddin Mohamad Salleh, 28, escaped with bruises. Both officers received initial treatment at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital and were discharged at 2 am today. They are now recuperating at the Malaysian Armed Forces Hospital.

Muhamad Norazlan visited the crash site to receive a briefing on the incident and to offer support to the officers. The crash occurred during a routine night flying training exercise. The airport, also known as Kuantan Air Base, has been temporarily closed to allow for a comprehensive cleanup operation called 'Mega Sweep.' Personnel have been deployed to clear any debris from the runway, with authorities expecting to confirm its operational readiness by midday.

An official board of inquiry has been formed by the RMAF to investigate the accident's cause. The investigation team will provide a preliminary report within 14 days. Viral video footage suggesting potential causes such as bird strikes, foreign object debris, and engine failure will be examined. The aircraft's data collector system will also be analyzed to determine the crash's cause. All F/A-18D Hornet flights have been temporarily suspended until the cause is identified.

The fighter jet was from No.18 Squadron, normally based at Butterworth Air Base, but temporarily deployed to Kuantan due to runway upgrades at Butterworth. The crash occurred on the air base's runway at 9.05 pm yesterday.