In India, the MiG-21s have often been termed “flying coffins” for their terrible safety record. On August 19, the Indian government approved the purchase of 97 LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets for USD7.2 billion, which will help in replacing the last two operational squadrons of the aging MiG-21 fighter jets.
Now, the same ‘flying coffins’ term has been used in Malaysia for another aircraft. However, this time it has been used not for a Russian platform, but for a US-made aircraft, generally known for its superior safety record.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) has reportedly cancelled the purchase of four UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters worth around RM187 million (US$44.2 million), following criticism from the country’s monarch, Yang di-Pertuan Agong – Sultan Ibrahim ibni Sultan Iskandar.
The decision came a day after Kuala Lumpur’s monarch called the three-decade-old systems “flying coffins”.
Speaking at a parade in Mersing marking the 60th Anniversary of Malaysia’s Special Service Regiment, the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces reminded the defense ministry to “not repeat past mistakes” in procurement.
“I believe that all of this happens because the defense ministry is full of agents or former generals who have become salesmen,” the supreme commander said. “We even have textile firms wanting to sell us drones.”
“If we have to follow the middleman’s (inflated) price in every procurement, then the existing allocation won’t be sufficient… So don’t try to fool me. If you don’t want to listen to me, I won’t reprimand you anymore after this,” he said, in comments that were also posted on his official Facebook page.
“Are we going to put our pilots in ‘flying coffins’? Think for yourselves,” the monarch added in his strongly worded statement.
Sultan Ibrahim said the Ministry of Defense should not “waste time purchasing nonsense that does not fit the military’s needs,” and that there is a need to review its procurement process, “in terms of pricing”.
“Several steps must be taken before determining the best acquisition method and expediting the process,” he added.
Malaysia’s Controversial Aircraft Deal
In his comments, the Malaysian King warned the defense forces to “not repeat past mistakes” in procurement.
He was referring to a controversial arms deal in the 1980s, under which Malaysia purchased dozens of A-4 Skyhawk ground-attack aircraft in 1982 for US$1 million each.
Malaysia had reportedly bought 88 such Vietnam War-era jets from the United States, of which only 40 were refurbished and put into service.
State news agency Bernama reported that the jets were later retired due to a high accident rate.
Malaysia Cancels UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter Deal After King’s Comments
Following the comments by the King, Malaysia has reportedly cancelled the deal for four UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters.
The Malaysian Armed Forces’ chief, General Mohd Nizam Jaffar, said it was the King’s strongly worded take on the issue that tilted the balance.
“We will not propose (the procurement of) Black Hawk and have taken heed of His Majesty’s concerns,” he was quoted as saying in a report that first appeared in Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia on August 19.
Media reports said that Malaysia had signed a deal in May 2023 to lease four Black Hawk helicopters from a local firm called Aerotree Defense and Services for RM187 million (US$44.4 million) over five years.
Earlier in November last year, Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense issued a notice to cancel the order after Aerotree failed to deliver the first helicopter as agreed in October 2024.
However, according to a report in the Malaysian news outlet Malay Mail, the ministry later issued a new contract, published in August 2025, that supposedly included the helicopters.
Though the King’s strong comments, going as far as calling them “flying coffins,” seem to have finally killed the deal.
However, some experts are questioning the use of the term “flying coffins” for Black Hawk helicopters. According to them, while the UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter is a fairly old platform, it would still be a mistake to call them “flying coffins”.
UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter
The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is the U.S. Army’s primary medium-lift utility transport and air assault aircraft. Introduced to the U.S. military in 1979, it is a twin-engined medium-lift utility helicopter.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, it is equipped with a single 4-bladed rotor and a single 4-bladed tail rotor.
The titanium-cored rotor blades are resistant to AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) fire up to 23mm and are equipped with pressurized sensors capable of detecting loss of rotor pressurization (damage).
The Black Hawk can transport 11 fully equipped combat soldiers in an assault-ready configuration, or 14 in maximum capacity. The maximum troop carrying capacity is 20 lightly equipped personnel. The dedicated medevac variant of the Black Hawk can accommodate six litters.
Sikorsky has built more than 5,000 HAWK aircraft for 36 nations worldwide. Together, they’ve racked up more than 15 million flight hours and 5 million in combat, including in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
Given its long operational history, including in combat zones, the helicopter has, understandably, been involved in a few crashes. However, many of these crashes have been combat-related.
The most famous of these incidents has been the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where three UH-60s were shot down by Somali forces. This event was popularized by the book and film ‘Black Hawk Down’.
In recent times, a tragic non-combat incident occurred in March 2023 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where nine soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division were killed in a mid-air collision of two UH-60s during a training exercise.
In January this year, a UH-60 Black Hawk collided with an American Airlines regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.
According to new statistics from the Aviation Division of the Directorate of Analysis and Prevention at the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, between 2020 and 2024, the Black Hawk helicopters suffered 12 serious incidents, the second-highest number of serious incidents suffered by any US military aircraft after AH-64 Apaches.
However, if one analyses the safety record of Black Hawk helicopters during the last four decades, the term ‘flying coffins’ does not seem appropriate.
In fact, the US military is extending the service life of its Black Hawk helicopters through a combination of mid-life upgrades, lifecycle management, and fatigue life monitoring programs, showing the US military’s continued faith in the safety record of Black Hawks.
So, it seems that the Malaysian King’s use of the term “Flying Coffins” was specific to surplus UH-60As, not the entire Black Hawk family or newer variants like the UH-60M, which feature upgraded avionics and safety systems.
The Black Hawk variant covered in Malaysia’s deal, the UH-60A, is the oldest version, and its safety history is mixed, especially if not maintained carefully or pushed past its design limits.
Helicopters that are more than three decades old are difficult to maintain and operate, and are prone to accidents.
So, it seems that the king was warning against procuring older UH-60A models, rather than criticizing the safety record of the entire Black Hawk family.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from The University of Sheffield, UK.
- He can be reached at ahlawat.sumit85 (at) gmail.com
