SEREMBAN: For Malaysia Airlines pilot Captain Azlan Aboo Bakar, the experience of flying home the remains of his friends who perished in the MH 17 tragedy is unforgettable.
Azlan and three other technical crew of MH19 flew a Boeing 777-200ER that carried the remains of nine victims for about 12 hours before they reached the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.37am on Tuesday.
The victims whose remains were repatriated in the commercial flight include MH17 pilots Captain Wan Amran Wan Hussin and Captain Eugene Choo Jin Leong, who were long-time friends of Azlan, co-pilot Muhd Firdaus Abdul Rahim and cabin crew Sanjid Singh Sandhu.
"I can't describe in words the feelings I had during the 12-hour flight, taking home the remains of good friends who grew up in MAS together with me.
"We had been flying together so many times... This was our last journey together," he told reporters when met at the house of Eugene's family in Sri Carcosa, Seremban 2 here yesterday.
Azlan, who had been in service with MAS for 25 years, realised he was carrying such a huge responsibility, but glad that he was given the chance to bring his friends home.
Along the journey, he said the weather was very good all the way until they touched down at KLIA.
When asked about Eugene, Azlan said he had known the father of two since Eugene joined Mas in 1990.
They also shared the same interest in motorcycling, and had been participating in many motorsports events together.
"I rushed to here (Eugene's house) soon after touchdown because I wanted to make sure that his last journey home and receiving ceremony is smooth."
Meanwhile, a blue off-road motorcycle owned by Eugene will be among several items that will be kept by his wife and two sons in his memory.
The Yamaha YZ450F motorcross bike was his favourite, among four motorcycles that he owned during his life, including a newly bought Kawasaki Z1000SX.
Malaysia Airlines cabin crew Shahril Irwan Mohamad, 38, who was also one of Eugene's riding buddies, said the victim's wife, Ivy Loi, 42, had initially voiced her intention to sell all four of Eugene's motorcycles as they were a painful reminder of his hobby.
However, the former Mas stewardess decided to keep the 450cc bike, which he frequently used to ride at an off-road course in Lukut, near here, besides several other tracks.