KUALA LUMPUR: The pilot who miraculously survived a light aeroplane crash in Ipoh, Perak last Monday, is recuperating well and in stable condition.
BATS Aviation chief flight instructor, Captain Muhammad Din Fikri Zainal Abidin, 62, has fully regained consciousness and seeking follow-on treatment at the Damansara Specialist Hospital in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
His father-in-law, former Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief, Lt-Gen Tan Sri Mohamad Yunus Tasi, told The New Straits Times that Muhammad Din Fikri can now talk but needed a lot of rest.
"He is alright and progressively recuperating at the hospital, after being transferred from the Raja Permaisuri Bainin Hospital in Ipoh on Wednesday night.
"He was admitted to the specialist hospital here to enable doctors to attend to his severe injuries - that included a number of broken bones - including to his left eye.
"He had expressed pain when he was moved from the Ipoh hospital bed to the ambulance to be transferred here.
"I am sure he will welcome visitors in due course. Do pray for his complete recovery," said Yunus, who retired from RMAF in 1993 after 33 years of service.
Yunus said Muhammad Din Fikri was commanding the flight (by sitting in the left-hand seat) while on a night flying mission with Lieutenant-Colonel (Rtd) Fajim Juffa Mustaffa Kamal, who perished in the crash.
Fajim, 52, a retired RMAF fighter pilot, died when the two-seater Piper 28-161 Warrior he was flying crashed into a ditch while attempting to land on Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah near Sungai Pinji, Medan Gopeng in Ipoh.
The aircraft had taken off at 8pm from the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh and shortly afterwards, the Ipoh air traffic control tower received a "May Day" (emergency) call from the pilot at 8.07pm.
The NST learnt the crash was believed to be from an engine malfunction as the aircraft was said to be flying just above 200ft (about 60.60m).
Yunus offered his condolences and prayers to Fajim's family.
"Fajim was a good officer and pilot in the RMAF and civil aviation world.
"This unfortunate accident, as in all accidents, was unexpected," said Yunus.
Aviators told the NST that Muhammad Din Fikri had also served the RMAF for 14 years and was attached to the VIP No 2 Squadron, before working with Malaysia Airlines for 26 years.
