PONTIAN: A Singaporean was killed after a Cessna light aircraft he was piloting crashed in an oil palm smallholding in Kampung Parit Puasa, Ayer Baloi, here yesterday, according to police.
Pontian Police deputy chief DSP Tan Moh Chuan said the pilot had been identified as Samuel Ling Shi Min, 24, of the FRAS Flying Club. He said Ling’s body had been taken to Pontian Hospital.
The police were alerted to the crash at 2.10pm, he said, adding that they had left it to the Department of Civil Aviation to conduct further investigation.
An eye-witness, Mohd Shafian Buang, 15, said he saw the plane circling in the air before crashing in the oil palm smallholding about 100 metres in front of his house.
“I was sweeping rubbish when I saw the aircraft circling and then crash,” he said.
He said he heard a loud crash, and then ran to the scene with several neighbours but did not get close to the aircraft for fear that it would explode because they smelt fuel.
Mohd Shafian said he related the incident to his uncle who notified the police. — Bernama