KUANTAN, Sept 18 — The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed that the Aug 21 crash of an F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet at Kuantan Air Base was caused by a bird strike. RMAF chief Gen Norazlan Aris said investigations revealed a purple heron entered the aircraft’s left engine during take-off, marking the first crash of its kind. Bird Strike or purple heron The conclusion was based on CCTV footage, flight incident recorder data with assistance from the US Navy, and analyses by Stride, the Chemical Department, police, and the Wildlife Department. The jet was travelling at 146 knots and … Continue reading Bird Strike Confirmed as Cause of RMAF F/A-18D Hornet Crash in Kuantan