History of the Flight
On 18 March 2019, a Bombardier BD100-1A10 aircraft, registration 9M-TST, operated by Berjaya Air, was on final approach to runway 15 at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, after a flight from Jaipur, India, with 12 persons on board. At 0308 hours local time, the pilot received landing clearance from Subang Control Tower without restriction. The aircraft landed safely at 0311 hours. During the landing roll, while decelerating between 90 and 100 knots, the crew felt the aircraft hitting something on the runway. The pilot stopped the aircraft abeam taxiway Foxtrot. The cabin crew visually inspected the left wing and observed that its leading edge was badly damaged. No abnormalities in aircraft operation were noted, and the pilot taxied to Bay 38 for passenger disembarkation. All crew and passengers were uninjured.
Runway Activities Prior to the Accident
At 0050 hours, a lighting maintenance vehicle had been allowed onto the runway area. At 0100 hours, two additional vehicles—an escort vehicle and a maintenance vehicle carrying three contractors for runway centreline painting—were permitted to enter via the threshold of runway 15. The escort vehicle communicated with the tower via walkie-talkie; the contractors' vehicle had no such communication. At 0215 hours, the lighting maintenance vehicle requested to vacate, and the controller recorded that all maintenance work was completed and all vehicles had left the runway, although the painting vehicles remained. At 0300 hours, a shift change occurred; the incoming controller was informed that no work was in progress. At 0308 hours, 9M-TST reported nine miles from the runway. The controller visually checked the runway and, seeing no anomalies, issued a landing clearance.
The contractors had been painting the centreline from threshold 15 toward threshold 33. Their vehicle moved along the centreline, initially followed closely by the escort vehicle. After a while, the escort vehicle stopped about 120 meters behind the workers' vehicle, approximately 1,200 meters from the threshold of runway 15. As the aircraft approached, the contractors saw its landing lights and realized an aircraft was landing. They boarded their vehicle and made a 180-degree turn to exit the runway, flashing their headlights at the escort vehicle but receiving no response. They drove off the runway and stopped at taxiway Foxtrot.
Injuries and Damage
The aircraft's left wing leading edge was severely damaged, with metal parts from the roof of a Perodua Kembara (registration BHL 3446) embedded in it. The vehicle was being used by a MASB technician as an escort for the painting operation. The vehicle was found on the runway with its roof torn off. The driver was found unconscious and severely injured in the driver's seat. Airport Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS) personnel removed the driver's side door, freed him, and transported him to Sime Darby Hospital. He was pronounced dead on the evening of 19 March 2019.
Aftermath
The AFRS arrived at the accident site at 0321 hours after being notified by the contractors. The damaged aircraft was towed to a bay for inspection. The investigation was conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Malaysia.