KUALA LUMPUR: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) stands by its initial statement that the light aircraft involved in the Kapar crash which claimed the lives of two individuals was operated by the flying club that the pilot was a member of.
CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Capt Norazman Mahmud said the information shared in the media statement issued yesterday, which indicated that BK 160 Gabriel with the registration number I-POOC was operated by Air Adventure Flying Club, is based on documentation retrieved, including the authorisation for the aircraft to fly.
He also added that there was no mention of the Singapore-based flight training company Aviation Safety Technology (AST) in the documents to corroborate that the aircraft was indeed owned by a foreign firm. However, Norazman confirmed that the pilot operating the aircraft did possess the necessary qualifications to man the specific type of aircraft that was involved in the incident.
Earlier today, the Air Adventure Flying Club clarified that the light aircraft involved in a crash in Kapar yesterday is not owned or operated by the club but belonged to a foreign company that used its hangar to promote the aircraft in Malaysia.
A spokesperson of the flying club said the pilot, identified as Daniel Yee Hsiang Khoon, had served as a flying instructor of the club and was personally involved in managing the BK 160 Gabriel light aircraft that he flew.
The spokesperson also said that the Air Accident Investigation Bureau had been in contact with the club since 9am today.