Ulu Yam plane crash: Three survivors found, two badly injured
BY L. SUGANYA, M.KUMAR, NICHOLAS CHENG, AND NATASHA JOIBI
The Cessna 172 plane crashed deep in the jungle near Empangan Batu, Ulu Yam on Friday evening.
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KUALA LUMPUR: Three people survived when their Cessna 172 plane crashed deep in the jungle near Empangan Batu, Ulu Yam on Friday evening.
Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rahim Abdullah confirmed that the three were safe.
He said two of the survivors, who were found early Saturday, were badly injured.
The first victim was found at about 3.45am with the help of Kampung Sungai Tua Baru villagers who reportedly heard an explosion at the time the Cessna plane went off the radar.
The survivors being wheeled to the ambulance Photo by L.Suganya
It is believed that the pilot lost control over the plane trying to avoid colliding with an eagle and crashed into a bamboo bush.
Two ambulances carrying the victims were seen leaving the Batu Dam at 7.56am.
The victims were sent to Selayang Hospital for treatment.
Relatives of the survivors were arriving at Batu Dam in droves to provide support to their family members.
Earlier Nicholas Cheng reported on Friday that the fate of three Royal Selangor Flying Club members is uncertain after their Cessna 172 plane crashed deep in the jungle near Empangan Batu, Ulu Yam.
Fire and Rescue team assisting the survivors. Photo by L.Suganya
The plane was believed to have taken off from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang on a training flight at around 4.50pm.
It lost communication with the control tower at around 5pm. Its last known coordinates are 031701 N and 10141 E.
ACP Abdul Rahim Abdullah said the plane's pilot who identified himself as Captain Saiful, was able to be contacted on his mobile phone.
He said Saiful told officials he was in a hill area opposite Empangan Batu and that he had lost his two passengers before connection was cut off.
No information of his condition was communicated.
ACP Abdul Rahim said a search and rescue operation was initially launched but called off at 7pm and would only start again at first light Saturday morning.
"The area in which they crashed has not been pin pointed and it is too dark now to start a search,” he said.\
