Vincent Tan Makes History As First Malaysian To Fly Pilotless EH216-S Air Taxi

A First For Malaysia

Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun has become the first Malaysian to experience a flight aboard the EH216-S, a pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, during a visit to Guangzhou, China. The Berjaya Corporation Berhad founder and adviser flew as a passenger inside the two-seat aircraft, which is developed by Chinese technology company EHang. Berjaya Corporation later shared footage of the experience, showing Tan inside the aircraft during the flight.

The video offered a close look at the cabin and gave viewers a glimpse of what a passenger experience on a pilotless aircraft can be like. Tan also used his mobile phone to record parts of the flight. The trip took place as Tan and Berjaya Corporation chairman Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim Ismail led a delegation to EHang’s headquarters. The group was briefed on EHang’s technology, research and development work, certification progress and possible uses for advanced air mobility.

Tan Compares It With A Helicopter

During the flight, Tan compared his experience with travelling in a helicopter and appeared impressed by the aircraft’s comfort and noise level. “I think this is better than a helicopter,” he said in the video after experiencing the flight. Tan also said the noise was not too bad and that he did not use headphones while inside the aircraft. Unlike a conventional helicopter, the EH216-S does not have a pilot seated in the cabin. It is designed as a pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL and can carry two people.

The aircraft takes off and lands vertically using electric-powered rotors and follows its flight route through autonomous systems. The flight gave Tan a direct experience of the technology that EHang is developing for low-altitude passenger travel. EHang has positioned the EH216-S as part of the wider urban air mobility sector, which covers new aircraft designed for passenger and other low-altitude transport uses.

EH216-S Moves Towards Commercial Flights

The EH216-S has already passed several major certification stages in China. EHang said the aircraft received its type certificate, standard airworthiness certificate and production certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. In March 2025, EHang also announced that two operators had obtained Air Operator Certificates for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles. The approvals allow authorised operators to provide passenger services such as low-altitude tourism and urban sightseeing at approved sites in Guangzhou and Hefei.

EHang described the approvals as an important step towards commercial operations for its pilotless passenger aircraft. The company has also continued working with local partners on additional operating sites and future applications. While the technology is still a relatively new form of passenger transport, the EH216-S has moved beyond basic testing in China and into regulated commercial operations at approved locations.

Malaysia Explores Low-Altitude Travel

Tan’s flight comes as Malaysia is also looking at how emerging aviation technology could fit into its future. On August 3, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia published a proposed Malaysia Low Altitude Economy Framework and opened it for public consultation. The framework is intended to guide the safe, secure and sustainable development of activities in low-altitude airspace. It covers technologies including unmanned aircraft systems, advanced air mobility, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and digital connectivity.

CAAM said the framework could support areas including logistics, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, emergency response and future passenger mobility. Public and industry feedback is being accepted until September 2. For Berjaya, the Guangzhou visit provided an opportunity to learn more about EHang’s aircraft and its progress in the advanced air mobility sector. Tan’s flight now puts a Malaysian business leader among the passengers who have experienced the EH216-S first-hand, as Malaysia considers how its own low-altitude aviation sector could develop.

Watch the video here: