Four TNI pilots slightly injured in two-aircraft collision

LANGKAWI: The four pilots of the Indonesian Air Force (AU-TNI) who were involved in a two-plane collision during a training session for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA '15) only suffered slight injuries.
Emergency medical consultative expert and advisor of Lima '15, Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abu Hassan Asaari Abdullah said all the pilots were able to eject their cockpit seats before the planes crashed.
"The collision occurred while they were practising and the two planes grazed each other before crashing, but thankfully, all the pilots managed to eject from the cockpits and were not seriously injured," he said here today.
However, he said, all the pilots were unconscious for some time after they ejected, due to the gravitational force of between 11 and 12 G.
Dr Abu Hassan, who is also the head of the emergency and trauma unit at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, said following tests and treatment given to the pilots at the Langkawi Hospital's Emergency Unit, all the pilots were found to suffer only slight injuries.
"However, we will be holding the victims in the wards to conduct psychological tests as they also suffered psychological injuries besides physical ones," he said.
In another Bernama report, the four pilots have been identified as: Arief Hartono, Sri Rahardjo, H. S. Romas and Hunaidi Syarif Romas.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein expressed his thankfulness when all four of Indonesia's Jupiter aerobatic pilots involved in the mid-air plane collision today, survived.
He said although the group of pilots was involved in an accident today, they were still eager to continue with the show.
"I am thankful that all of them survived. Thank God, they (the Jupiter pilot group) remain vibrant. Their morale is high," he told reporters at the Langkawi District Hospital today.
He had earlier visited all four pilots involved along with his counterpart from Indonesia, Ryamizard Ryacudu.
Hishamuddin also said he was satisfied with the search and rescue operations to save the pilots.
"I am satisfied with the SAR operation and the time taken by the force to rescue the pilots involved," he said.
Two Jupiter Aerobatic Team aircraft belonging to AU-TNI crashed while on an aerobatic training session for LIMA '15 at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre at 2.04pm today.
The accident occurred when a group of six KT-1B aircraft were crossing through the MIEC airspace, before two collided in mid-air and crashed.
The LIMA'15 exhibition is scheduled to be held from March 17 to 21 and will witness the participation of five teams, including the AU-TNI, in an aerobatic show.
The two aircraft crashed at Permandangan Indah, Padang Mat Sirat and Kampung Gelam, Kedawang. – Bernama