1976: DOUBLE SIX CRASH

The 6 June 1976 Double Six Crash, often referred to as the Double Six Tragedy, remains one of the most significant and somber events in Malaysian political history. It resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including the top leadership of the Sabah state government.

What Happened?

On the afternoon of June 6, 1976, a GAF N-22B Nomad aircraft operated by Sabah Air was flying from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu. At approximately 3:41 PM, as the plane was making its final approach to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, it suddenly stalled, spiraled, and crashed into the shallow waters of Sembulan, just 3 kilometers from the runway.

The Victims

The crash was catastrophic because it effectively "wiped out" the newly elected Sabah state cabinet. The 11 victims included:

• Tun Fuad Stephens: The Chief Minister of Sabah (who had been in office for only 53 days).
• Datuk Peter Mojuntin: Minister of Local Government and Housing.
• Datuk Salleh Sulong: Minister of Finance.
• Chong Thien Vun: Minister of Works and Communication.
• Darius Binion: Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister.
• Johari Stephens: Tun Fuad's eldest son.
• Captain Gandhi Nathan: The pilot.
• Four other officials and bodyguards.

Investigation Findings

For nearly 47 years, the official investigation reports were classified as state secrets, leading to decades of speculation. In April 2023, the Malaysian government finally declassified the "Double Six" report.

The Key Findings:

• No Sabotage: The report ruled out fire, explosion, or foul play.
• Improper Loading: The primary cause was found to be the aircraft's Centre of Gravity (CG), which was "well outside the aft [rear] limit." Essentially, the plane was loaded incorrectly, making it tail-heavy and unstable.
• Pilot Error & Fatigue: The pilot had exceeded his maximum duty time and had a "casual" approach to professional standards. On the final approach, when he lowered the flaps to land, the nose pitched up uncontrollably, leading to a fatal stall.
• Operational Failures: Sabah Air was found to be operating with sub-standard procedures; no formal load sheets were prepared, and no flight plan was filed for the VVIP flight.

Lasting Impact and Conspiracy Theories

Despite the official findings, many in Sabah remain skeptical. The tragedy occurred during a period of intense tension between the Sabah state government and the Federal government regarding oil royalties (Sabah was pushing for 20-25%, but the 5% deal was signed shortly after the crash).

The fact that several prominent politicians, including Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Harris Salleh, were supposed to be on the flight but exited at the last minute has fueled conspiracy theories for decades.

Commemoration

Every year on June 6, a memorial service is held at the Double Six Monument in Sembulan, built on the exact site of the crash, to honor the leaders who lost their lives.

Google Gemini AI

18 January 2026: 2.09 p.m