Hawk 108 crash: PM Najib conveys condolences, promises thorough investigation

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak expressed his condolences to the families of the two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) pilots who were killed after their Hawk 108 training fighter jet crashed 50km from the Kuantan air base.

Najib on his Twitter posting said a thorough investigation would be conducted into the tragedy.

"Received the sad news of the two pilots who went missing earlier, have been found dead. Condolences to their families. A thorough investigation will be carried out," he said. The two Royal Airforce pilots who were thought to be missing, are now proclaimed dead.

The two pilots were identified as Major Yazmi Mohamed Yusof, 39, and Major Mohd Hasri Zahari, 31.

It was understood the crew that ejected themselves from the aircraft.

Astro AWANI learnt that Yazmi served in the RMAF for the past 19 years while Hasri served for 13 years.

Earlier, the fighter jet that had lost contact with the base near the Terengganu-Pahang border around 11.30am today.

RMAF, in a statement released around 12.35pm today, said the fighter jet took off from the Kuantan air force base at 11am and lost contact 30 minutes later.