KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysia Airlines flight that took off for Seoul, South Korea, last night, was diverted back to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after over an hour in the air.
Reports of the diversion were posted on X by users, while the FlightAware website showed that flight MH66 which took off at 12.17am from KLIA returned to the airport and landed at 1.26am.
The plane is an Airbus A330-323.
There has not been any official statement by Malaysia Airlines about the diversion; however, this is the latest in a string of flight disruptions the national carrier has faced in recent times.
It also follows the announcement by the airline’s parent company, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) on reducing flights and routes until December to take “corrective measures” to address problems plaguing its fleet.
The recent disruptions were in the last few months since June, and involved MH flights that had to make diversions, emergency landings, or saw delayed departures, on various routes involving Melbourne, Doha, Hyderabad, Bangkok, Jeddah, Medina and Shanghai.
Former transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong last month listed at least eight flight disruptions since last year, urging the authorities to investigate the airline’s technical issues.
Among the problems cited by the airline’s for some of these disruptions were cabin pressure, engine and unspecified “technical” issues.
MAG group managing director Datuk Izham Ismail has said the decision to reduce its network involving Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and pilgrimage arm Amal, was “temporary” while measures are taken to overcome supply chain constraints and manpower challenges.
Malaysia Airlines has lost 63 out of its 411 qualified engineering services staff to resignations, including for better work offers elsewhere, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said recently, citing an audit by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
Additionally, MAG is experiencing late delivery of aircraft it had purchased, with only four received out of 13 Boeing 737-8 planes it was supposed to get this year. The group is also waiting to receive three out of four Airbus A330neo aircraft ordered. – September 2, 2024