Aircraft operated by S'porean pilots makes emergency landing on Johor highway

KUALA LUMPUR — Motorists along the North-South Highway (Plus) near Sedenak, Johor did a double take after witnessing the unusual sight of an aircraft making an emergency landing on the highway on Sunday morning (Nov 22).

The Beechcraft Bonanza Model 35 light aircraft reportedly experienced problems after take-off from the Senai International Airport.

Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia chief executive officer Captain Chester Voo said the aircraft, operated by Premier Air Singapore, cited technical issues shortly after takeoff.

Mr Voo said the aircraft, manned by two Singaporean pilots, was en route to Melaka.

He said the pilot radioed Johor's Air Traffic Control Tower at 10.40am, requesting for a return landing at the Senai airport.

However, instead of returning to the airport, the pilot performed an emergency landing along the highway.

Mr Voo said both pilots are reportedly in stable condition.

"The aircraft has been moved to a position that does not obstruct traffic on the highway.

"Search and rescue teams have completed all required tasks, and probe into the incident will be conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau under the Transport Ministry," he said in a statement.

Social media was abuzz earlier with videos of the light aircraft "parked" on the emergency lane at Kilometre 47.9 of the highway, with concerns raised over the condition of the pilots.

This is, however, not the first time such an incident had occurred.

A similar incident took place on the afternoon of July 15, 2006 when a light aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The private aircraft was reportedly descending on the runway at the Sungai Besi Air Force station when it was hit by a gust of wind, blowing the single-prop aircraft onto the highway.

The aircraft hit a lamp post and landed on the road before coming to a halt. Both the pilot and co-pilot were unharmed. NEW STRAITS TIMES