Explain why flight made U-turn to Kota Kinabalu, passenger tells airline

 

A passenger on board a Malaysia Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur said the plane returned to Kota Kinabalu yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines has been urged to keep its passengers in the loop over technical issues it faces after flight MH2607 from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur allegedly turned back mid-way due to an autopilot issue.

One passenger, E Sivabalan, said passengers were only informed by the captain once the issue had been rectified and the plane had already turned back to Kota Kinabalu.

“We should be told what went wrong because we paid for our flights. Malaysia Airlines has the responsibility to inform its passengers,” he told FMT.

Sivabalan said the flight departed Kota Kinabalu around 4.30pm yesterday, but halfway through, he felt the plane make a U-turn. He said it landed at Kota Kinabalu at 6.15pm.

E Sivabalan.

He said many passengers were left dismayed over the confusion and lack of clarification over the matter, leaving them to take a later flight or travel the following day.

Sivabalan said he was still unaware of the exact reason behind the flight turning back. He said through discussions with the ground staff at Kota Kinabalu, he found out it was allegedly due to an autopilot issue.

He urged Malaysia Airlines to be more transparent, citing a flight earlier this month, which was forced to return to KLIA enroute to Tawau after reportedly “diving” at one point.

Three passengers have since lodged police reports asking for a detailed probe into that earlier incident.

FMT has contacted Malaysia Airlines for comment. - FMT