KUCHING, Nov 28: A fighter jet F/A18-D from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) flying from Labuan to Butterworth made an emergency landing at Kuching International Airport today after a malfunction involving the cockpit nose landing gear indicator.
The loud sound created by the fighter jet circling airspace near Stutong/ BDC area at around 2.30pm today attracted the attention of many onlookers.
A nurse at a private hospital in the area told DayakDaily that it was unusual to hear such loud sound by an aircraft in the vicinity. Hence, many curious staff and passers-by raised their heads to find the source of the noise and noticed the unusual appearance of the RMAF fighter jet.
According to the statement issued by RMAF late this evening, the F/A-18D fighter jet had made a precautionary landing after experiencing a minor problem..
The statement said the cockpit nose landing gear indicator failed to function although the landing gear had engaged.
The aircraft was returning to the Butterworth airbase after taking part in the Paradise 4/2017 exercise at the Labuan airbase.
Sarawak Air Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS) regional manager Wan Johari Wan Shahid said the pilot of the aircraft had called the control tower at the airport at 2.41pm requesting to make an emergency landing.
The AFRS immediately made preparations for a full emergency landing and five minutes later, the aircraft made a normal landing without any problems.
The plane was later towed to the RMAF hangar for an inspection.
The Kuching International Airport runway, which was temporarily closed for the emergency landing, reopened at 3.22pm. — DayakDaily
