Carrier apologises for tweet faux pas

KUALA LUMPUR — After a second social media gaffe since losing two planes this year, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has apologised and removed a poorly worded tweet on its year-end promotion following a slew of criticism.

The national carrier, whose Flight MH370 disappeared in March and remains missing, posted the message on Twitter: “Want to go somewhere, but don’t know where? Our Year-End Specials might just help! #keepflying.”

Users of the site were quick to draw a link between the message and MH370 that vanished with 239 people on board, prompting MAS to remove the message. “Our tweet was intended to inspire travellers to explore deals. We apologise for any offence caused and have removed it!” MAS replied to Twitter user Theresa Powell today on its official @MAS account.

Ms Powell tweeted MAS yesterday to say: “Probably not the best choice of words for an airline that doesn’t know where one of its planes is — just saying #mas370.”

This is the carrier’s latest promotion that has carried messages indirectly referencing its disasters that include Flight MH17, which was shot down in eastern Ukraine in July, killing 289 people on board.

In September, MAS was forced to scrap its My Ultimate Bucket List advertising campaign, following a backlash over the phrase “bucket list”, which refers to a list of things to do before one dies.

Foreign press such as The New Zealand Herald have reported Twitter users criticising the airline over its latest faux pax.

Malaysian Twitter user Adrian Yeo (@ninoamigo) said the airline’s tweet was “inappropriate”.

In response to the social media backlash, MAS retweeted Twitter user Jonathan Wong’s tweet, “Don’t understand all the haters blasting #mas for its promotions? Some people are trying”, and replied “Thanks for your support”. The MALAY MAIL