Paratrooper Misses Landing, Crashes Into Motorcyclist During Exercise in Melaka
A routine parachute training exercise took an unexpected turn when a soldier from the 18th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (18 RAMD Para) accidentally landed on a moving motorcyclist.
The incident, which occurred at Terendak Camp in Melaka on 15 February, involved Corporal Mohd Zahier Zainol Abidin, 29, who was the sixth parachutist in the third sortie of the Eagle Swift Exercise Series 1/2025.
Strong Winds Blamed for the Off-Target Landing
According to a statement from the Malaysian Army, Mohd Zahier was on his final approach towards the landing zone when an unexpected change in wind direction pushed him off course. Instead of landing in the designated area, he veered off towards a nearby road, colliding with a passing motorcyclist.
A recovery team from the landing zone immediately responded to assess both individuals. Fortunately, the soldier only sustained minor injuries, while the motorcyclist was unharmed. Mohd Zahier was then taken to the 94th Armed Forces Hospital at Terendak Camp for further examination, where doctors confirmed that his injuries were not serious.
Netizens React – “You’ve Heard of Bird Strikes, Now This!”
Following the incident, a video of the paratrooper’s unexpected landing quickly went viral, sparking amused reactions from netizens. Some joked about the situation, comparing it to “bird strikes at airports,” while others pointed out that unpredictable wind conditions often make parachute landings challenging.
While the accident was unfortunate, many acknowledged that it was beyond the soldier’s control. At least no one was seriously hurt!
Source: The Rakyat Post
