LABUAN, May 20 — The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed that an F/A-18D Hornet aircraft, deployed on a detachment at the Labuan Air Base for training purposes, experienced an engine issue during its return flight after undergoing a night Air-to-Surface Firing Exercise in Kota Belud, Sabah, yesterday.
The RMAF Public Relations Division of the Air Force Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, stated in a release today that the aircraft’s pilot executed the established emergency procedures as soon as the incident occurred.
According to the statement, the pilot then decided to land at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) as a safety precaution.
“The aircraft landed safely at 7:47pm,” the statement read.
Following the incident, the RMAF deployed a technical team to KKIA to conduct inspections and provide technical assistance for the aircraft.
The aircraft is expected to fly back to its base once all inspection and technical verification processes are completed.
The RMAF also assured that flight operation safety remains a top priority in every mission and training execution. — Bernama
Date: 20 May, 2026 6:00 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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