Nuisance caused by birds and wild boars have disrupted flying training at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Airbase in Gong Kedak.

Its commandant, Col Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, said the birds often flew into the path of Sukhoi SU30 MKM aircraft while the wild boars crossed the runway.

Among the birds that often disrupted training and caused substantial losses to repair the damage were swiftlets, egrets, hawks and pigeons.

“Wild boars had crossed the runway as the aircraft was taking off, causing panic to the pilot,” he said at an operation against rogue animals with members of People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and Kampung Security and Development Committee (JKKK) today.

Police had several times told the local community not to build swiftlet houses within 15 kilometres of training airspace but some went against it.

Asghar Khan said on several occasions, the birds entered the aircraft engine, causing damage and RMAF had to spend millions of ringgit on repairs.

He sought the cooperation of the people not to build swiftlet houses near the airbase to ensure the safety of pilots undergoing training.

Some 70 people took part in the operation against rogue animals to rid the airbase of birds and wild boars.

- Bernama