FED: Unlikely F 111 crew bailed in time, defence minister

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-1999
FED: Unlikely F 111 crew bailed in time, defence minister

CANBERRA, April 19 AAP - The two crew of RAAF F-111 bomber, missing off Malaysia, probably
did not eject before the plane crashed, Defence Minister John Moore said today.

Mr Moore said the government, however, remained hopeful of a positive outcome.

"It is unlikely (that the crew was able to bail out) but there is no information," he told
reporters in Canberra today.

"It was at night and the other plane that was flying in the area did see the plane hit."

Chief of the Defence Force Admiral Chris Barrie said the safety capsule in the F-111 was
fully fitted with the normal safe person recovery devices.

"Of course it does offer a fair degree of protection to the crew," he told reporters.

"But if the circumstances are as reported, then my sense of it is there wouldn't be much of
the capsule left."

The F-111 was one of four from RAAF Amberley in Queensland that were participating in a
multi-national air defence exercise out of Butterworth, Malaysia.

About 10.30pm (AEST) the aircraft and two crew members was participating in a practice
maritime strike mission. It was reported to have crashed after striking the peak on the small
island of Pulau Aur, in the South China Sea.

Mr Moore said the government regretted that this accident had occurred.

He said they were operating at night at low level; in conjunction with another RAAF F-111.

"It was part of the five power defence plan exercises going on in that area," he said.

"We are still hopeful as to what the outcomes might be. Along with the Chief of the Defence
Force we have asked for a dull report on what happened.

"Until such time as we have those reports, I can't comment further.

"But certainly at this point, the government's thoughts and good wishes are with the
families and relatives of the two pilots. It is just a very unfortunate outcome."

Mr Moore said the F-111s, despite their age, remained one of the most potent strike
aircraft around and the government did not think they were too old.

He said there was no reason to suspect the accident stemmed from any mechanical problem
with the aircraft.

AAP mb

KEYWORD: F111 MOORE

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