RMAF Hornet Escorts Trump’s Air Force One On Arrival For ASEAN Meetings

By Mohd Adli Shahar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter jet greeted Air Force One in the skies this morning as United States President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia for ASEAN meetings.

RMAF, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed that an F/A-18D Hornet from No. 18 Squadron escorted the US President’s aircraft as it entered Malaysian airspace at 9.24 am, before landing at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 9.55 am.

According to an RMAF spokesperson, the escort mission was carried out by pilot Major Ahmad Nur Ikhwan Ahmad Tridi and sensor officer Captain Ahmad Nazhan Ahmad Nazrin.

This is Trump’s maiden visit to Malaysia and Asia since his re-election as US President in January this year.

Today, he attended the 13th ASEAN-US Summit and a Malaysia-US bilateral meeting, and witnessed the signing of the Cambodia-Thailand peace deal.

Malaysia, as this year’s ASEAN Chair, is hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from today until Oct 28 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

-- BERNAMA