A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) woman trainee was killed when the plane she piloted crashed at a rubber estate near Jitra, Kedah today.

According to Bernama, a Defence Ministry statement said the aircraft crashed at 12.20pm.near Kampung Lembah Kerian in Sintok.

The Pilatus PC7 training aircraft took off from the RMAF College in Alor Setar at 11.19am.

RMAF Public Relations Officer Mejar Roslan Salam said the pilot's identity was being withheld until her next-of-kin are notified.

"The RMAF is trying to inform the pilot's next-of-kin of the crash," he said, adding that RMAF had set up an inquiry board to investigate the crash.

'Broke into pieces'

Eyewitness, Hassan Seman, 65, said the ill-fated aircraft missed him by some 50m when it crashed at about noon. He was tapping rubber at his smallholding near the village at the time.

"I was about 50m from where the aircraft crashed. Before that I saw the aircraft flying low and suddenly plunging," he said, adding that the plane hit two rubber trees and an explosion was heard.

Hassan said he then ran to the scene to check but did not see any fire. "I saw smoke billowing from the wreckage," he said.

Another eyewitness, Khalid Hashim, said he and a friend were inspecting grazing land at the rubber estate when the incident happened.

"I was only about 60m from the scene. I saw the aircraft plunging and heard an explosion," he said.

He added that the impact caused the plane to break into pieces and debris was scattered over a 30m radius.