48 flights at Sibu Airport cancelled after Malaysia Airlines plane skids off runway

SIBU — More than 3,500 people were stranded at the Sibu Airport in Sarawak on Sunday (April 9) after flights were cancelled to make way for the removal of a Malaysia Airlines' flight MH2718 which skidded off the runway upon landing Saturday night.

Sibu Airport manager Zainduddin Abu Nasir, said a total of 48 inbound and outbound flights have been cancelled on Sunday due to the temporary closure which could last till 8pm.

He said 28 of the cancelled flights are operated by MASwings, 16 flights operated by AirAsia and the rest by the national carrier.

“Flights affected by the cancellation involved destinations in Johor Baru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Bintulu and Miri,” he told reporters here on Sunday.

He also confirmed that the airport will be closed until 8pm on Sunday for the removal of flight MH2718 aircraft, which sustained damages on its gear nose during the 10.17pm incident.

Meanwhile, the Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), said it was assessing the damage to the runaway and facilities at the Sibu Airport.

“We are working closely with the Department of Civil Aviation and Malaysia Airlines Bhd to prepare the fastest recovery plan to the airport operations upon aircraft removal from the runaway,” said MAHB in a statement on its official Facebook account.

MAHB senior manager at the Kuching International Airport Mohd Nadzim Hashim said no flights bound for Sibu have been diverted in Kuching.

One of the passengers on flight MH2718, Mr Mohd Nikman Hashim, 25, said he was glad that no one was injured in the incident.

"Although during the emergency, everyone was panicky and scared, the crew managed to evacuate all of us in an orderly manner," he said when contacted.

Mr Nikman was travelling with his father Hashim Anyut, 65, and mother Hasiah Yahud, 58, from Kuala Lumpur after returning from Jeddah on Saturday morning.

"We arrived Kuala Lumpur in the morning before taking the flight back to Sibu (last night)," he said.

The heavy downpour, he said, had forced the aircraft to circle around the Sibu airspace for 30 minute after the first landing attempt failed.

"I'm still shocked but is thankful to God that no one was injured or killed in the incident and that my parents and I have returned home safely." he added.

Mr Nikman said they were waiting for MAS to contact them on when to collect their luggage. NEW STRAITS TIMES