BUTTERWORTH: A Royal Malaysian Air Force serviceman was killed and another injured when a Hawk 108 aircraft crashed at the air base here about 10pm last night.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein confirmed the incident on his Facebook page, while ordering a thorough probe on what happened.
He said he had been informed by RMAF chief General Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad, adding that he was saddened by the incident.
"The RMAF has been ordered to give me a detailed report and investigate the cause of the incident."
Hishammuddin, however, did not identify the servicemen involved nor did he mention whether they were the pilots, though the Hawk 108 is a two-seater aircraft generally used as an advanced jet trainer.
The minister offered his condolences to the family of the deceased, adding that he had also ordered the Defence Ministry to provide whatever assistance necessary to the families of the two servicemen.
The RMAF had earlier issued a statement confirming the crash on the runway of the Butterworth air base at 10.07pm.
"We can confirm an accident involving a Hawk belonging to the RMAF on the runway of the Butterworth air base tonight. The RMAF is taking immediate actions and will inform the latest about the incident.
"As such, we urge the people not to speculate on the matter," it said in a statement.