Happened overnight - no specifics on cause yet though it does look like an engine failure or similar at the worst time:
Video included in story.
Video included in story.
RMAF loses Hornet on takeoff - Crew safe
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fubar57
General
Good news about the crew
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 4,153
- Jun 25, 2013
One wonders how many F-18s -- operating from land -- have been lost due to the failure of one engine. It would be incredibly ironic if the F-18 (operating from land) had a higher loss rate due to engine failure than the F-16.
Thumpalumpacus
Lieutenant Colonel
Yeah, that looks like a turbine fan came apart. Glad the crew's okay.
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 4,153
- Jun 25, 2013
That's definitely not supposed to happen. Was it a disc failure or blades? The latter can be, and in civil engines, must be contained.
Glad the crew is safe!
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Kuantan Hornet crash: Pilot, co-pilot ejected safely, fleet temporarily grounded, says Air Force chief
KUANTAN: The two Royal Malaysian Air Force officers piloting the F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet successfully executed emergency ejection procedures before the aircraft crashed at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport (Kuantan Air Base) late Thursday (Aug 21) night.
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Accident McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet M45-07, Thursday 21 August 2025
Crashed on takeoff. Both pilot and co-pilot ejected and survived.
asn.flightsafety.org
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RMAF F/A-18D Hornet Engine Catches Fire During Take-Off - Defence Security Asia
A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F/A-18D Hornet fighter aircraft was involved in an accident during take-off from Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan, Pahang, on Tuesday night.
defencesecurityasia.com
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Malaysia’s F/A-18D Hornet Accident Linked to Deadly Bird Strike, Not Technical Failure - Defence Security Asia
RMAF confirms F/A-18D Hornet crash at Kuantan Air Base was caused by a purple heron bird strike during take-off, not technical failure. Both pilots ejected safely, with investigations conducted alongside STRIDE, Perhilitan, and the US Navy.
defencesecurityasia.com
So, a Heron down the left engine. Obviously that engine was very badly damaged and you can see what looks like a trail of white-hot blades out of the exhaust.
Should the aircraft have flown on the other engine? Possibly, if external stores were jettisoned but, was the other engine damaged? Possibly, we will never know.
Eng
Should the aircraft have flown on the other engine? Possibly, if external stores were jettisoned but, was the other engine damaged? Possibly, we will never know.
Eng
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- #14
It only was one engine. Don't be misled by the spectacular footage at night...this is what a similar incident looks like in daylight:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbP2wg1NdzQ
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- #16
You obviously lose an aircraft when the crew eject. I don't blame them for doing so but there is an argument that it was recoverable but that the circumstances at the time (nighttime, on rotation, advice from ATC etc) led them to eject. I have had quite a bit of information direct from the RMAF and they have confirmed only one engine was affected.
OK, if you have that information, thanks! It is a pity if that was saveable, but things happen fast in Fast-Jet Ops. Practice for EFATO at different stages, cable engagement options, barrier options, jettison procedures etc, should be ingrained in high standard Military crew(s), so if this was a FU of a pre-considered situation (Severe engine failure after T/O) it reflects badly on something. OTOH, Eject in time is a bottom line.
There is the dark aspect of a engine failure that no-one want's to be known, due to the commercial aspect's, but I guess that is not the situation here.
Eng
There is the dark aspect of a engine failure that no-one want's to be known, due to the commercial aspect's, but I guess that is not the situation here.
Eng
Glad the crew is safe.
