AirAsia flight from Tawau to KL turns back with engine problems

 

The pilot of an AirAsia flight bound for Kuala Lumpur with about 170 passengers on board is reported to have requested a return to Tawau. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

An AirAsia flight from Tawau to Kuala Lumpur was reported to have turned back with engine problems nearly an hour after taking off this afternoon.

The Airbus A330 aircraft on flight AK5741 had about 170 passengers on board, Sinar Harian reported.

Tawau airport manager Rehan Shafiq Azizan said the airport was informed by air traffic controllers at about 3.03pm that the plane’s pilot had requested to return. The plane landed safely at Tawau airport at 4.34pm, with no injuries reported.

The plane took off later this evening and was expected to land in Kuala Lumpur past midnight, according to the flight tracking website Flightradar24.com. - FMT