He said this was necessary until investigations into yesterday’s plane crash, involving the same type of aircraft, was concluded.

There are currently three other Beechcrafts parked at the Subang Air Base.

Hishammuddin also warned defence contractors that they risked being blacklisted if there was any link between the crash and poor maintenance work.

“If the crash is the result of it (the aircraft) being poorly maintained, we will ensure the companies involved will be held responsible,” he told reporters after launching the new Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security or Midas building here today.

Earlier, Hishammuddin clarified that it was not the responsibility of his ministry to service their assets, especially military equipment and aircraft. He also said the ministry outsourced such maintenance work to private companies.

“It is the same practice adopted by other countries around the world,” he said.

Yesterday, Major Kayamboo Chellam was killed in a crash at the RMAF base in Teluk Air Tawar, Butterworth at about 5.18pm.

Kayamboo was the pilot on the aircraft, which was on a training exercise and carrying three other air force personnel.

The other three personnel, who were injured, were sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment.

Kayamboo, who coincidentally turned 45 yesterday, is survived by his wife and four children.

Yesterday, the RMAF Board of Inquiry said it will investigate the cause of the crash.

RMAF chief General Affendi Buang said the board would also identify what problems the aircraft was experiencing just before it crashed.

He said although the aircraft had been in service for over 20 years now, it was still in good condition as it had always undergone its scheduled maintenance.

This is the second incident involving a RMAF aircraft this year. In May, an RMAF Aermacchi MB 339CM crashed in Pekan. No fatalities were reported in the incident.