October 11, 2013, Friday
CRASH LANDED: Pictures (above and below) showing the aircraft in front of a house at Kampung Sinsan Kudat. — Bernama photos
THE AFTERMATH: Firefighters helping the injured pilot get away from the crash site. — Bernama photo
Co-pilot Marc Joel Bansh
KUDAT: Two people have died following the MASwings Twin Otter aircraft crash at Kudat airport yesterday afternoon.
They have been identified as the aircraft’s co-pilot, Marc Joel Bansh, and an elderly passenger, Tan Ah Cai, 69.
The Twin Otter aircraft was carrying 16 passengers, including the pilot and co-pilot, when it attempted an emergency landing here.
Another passenger identified as Sue Isabella Abal, is also reported to be in critical condition, while the pilot, Captain Wan Mohd Abdul Amir Wan Yahya, 58, is also reported as injured, though not as serious.
The other passengers who received outpatient treatment were Fauziah Pelimin, 32, Mohd Raiyan Fatmi, four-year-old, Nur Filzah Raudhah, one year old, Merang Maharani, 54, Noorhazwin Sharom, 29, Chang Gee Keong, 29, Elranita bt John, 25, Junaini Bladi, 52, Erwan Shah bin Einin, 23, Lee Chee Kian, 39, and Tan Kang Cheing.
It was reported that the DHC6 Twin Otter aircraft, call signed 9M-MDM, operating as flight number MH3002 from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat, carrying 16 people made a short landing of the runway and crashed into a house at Kampung Sinsan, Kudat at around 2.50pm.
Tan died at around 5pm while seeking treatment at the Kudat district hospital, while co-pilot Marc Joel Bansh succumbed to his injuries at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) at around 9.30pm. Marc was rushed to Kota Kinabalu from Kudat in a Sabah Air aircraft to seek treatment at QEH for his severe injuries.
Earlier, Kudat police chief, DSP Dawi Ossen, when contacted said, a male passenger succumbed to his injuries at the Kudat hospital while seeking treatment.
“Five other people are still receiving treatment and reported to be in serious but stable condition,” he said.
Ossen said among those injured were the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft.
“We are still carrying out investigation at the scene to determine the actual cause of the incident,” he said, adding that the remaining passengers have also been taken to hospital.
Meanwhile, State Fire and Rescue Services Department public relation officer, Senior Assistant Superintendent Mohd Affendy Ramin, said, the department received information of a plane crash at 3.15pm and a team from the Kudat Fire and Rescue Department was deployed to the scene within minutes. Mohd Affendy added that there were some oil spillage in the scene coming from the aircraft but the Fire and Rescue personnel were able to control the situation.
Meanwhile, a villager who rushed to the scene after the crash, said that one of the passengers had alleged that the pilot was not able control the aircraft after strong winds battered the aircraft during landing.
“The man, who said he was traveling with a woman, claimed that strong winds had caused the plane to turn sharply to its side, causing it to crash into a house near the runway,” said the witness, who declined to be named.
The witness also saw an ambulance dispatched to the scene rushing the pilot and co-pilot to the Kudat Hospital. Both appeared severely injured and unconscious, according to the man.
He added that the site was quickly cordoned off by the police after they arrived but he heard people at the scene saying the pilot was in a coma when he was taken for treatment.
According to the witness, the plane veered off track and knocked part of the garage of a house.
“One of the plane’s wings clipped one of the three cars parked outside the house,” said the witness.
It was unclear if any one of the house occupants were in during the incident.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/10/11/2-confirmed-dead-in-twin-otter-crash-at-kudat/#ixzz2hNu1QvL4
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