KUALA LUMPUR — A Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) Aermacchi MB339CM jet crashed in Nenasi, Pekan, Pahang on Tuesday afternoon (May 17).

According to an RMAF statement, the jet based at the Kuantan air base experienced technical problems while doing training flight manoeuvres at 12.54pm.

"Both pilots on board ejected to safety," the statement said.

The RMAF said a board of inquiry would be set up to investigate the cause of the crash.

In Kuantan, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department Senior Superintendent II (Operations) Ashrul Rezal Asbar said one of the pilots, Lieutenant Mohd Hakimi Hairi, fractured his right leg while the other pilot Mejar Nazrul Hafiz Zaimi escaped injury.

"Both pilots were brought out of the crash site in a military helicopter at 1.37pm," he told Bernama.

He said the department was alerted about the incident by members of the public at around 1pm and that a fire engine with 11 men from the Pekan fire station was rushed to the scene.

Mr Ashrul Rezal said on reaching the scene, both pilots had already come out of the aircraft.

"The front portion of the plane was badly damaged as it had nosedived into a padi field," he said, adding the two pilots were reported to have been taken to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here. BERNAMA