KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry has received a report that a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft was intercepted by Indonesian fighter jets en route to Labuan, Sabah today.
The incident happened when the C130 transport aircraft was flying at the airspace near Indonesia's Natuna Island.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, confirming the incident, said the ministry is waiting for a full report to understand what had transpired.
However, Hishammuddin said he was not worried as such incidents (aircraft interception at borders) happens all over the world, and that Malaysia and Indonesia have a strong bilateral relationship.
He also urged all parties especially the media to be responsible in reporting news on the incident, and not blow the matter out of proportion.
Meanwhile, RMAF sources said the incident happened when the transport aircraft was en route from the Subang Air Base to Labuan.
However, sources said the incident was not an 'intercept', but rather a notification by Indonesian fighter aircraft to the RMAF pilot to identify themselves and that the C130 had allegedly encroached into their airspace.