The Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) has issued a press statement today saying that 16 People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft were intercepted off the coast of East Malaysia on May 31.
Photos: RMAF
The huge formation was detected by Air Defense Center (CRC 2) in Sarawak at 1153hrs local time. We were informed by our own sources that the formation came from mainland China. They were flying between 23,000 feet to 27,000 feet and had approach 60 nautical miles off East Malaysia.
The RMAF scrambled its Hawk 208 fighters to intercept the formation at 1333 hrs. According to the press statement, the Chinese formation consists of Il76 and Y-20 cargo planes. We received information that other aircraft types were involved as well.
It is interesting to note that a Republic of Singapore Air Force G550 airborne early warning aircraft flew to the South China Sea shortly after 1200 hrs.
