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AIRASIA has confirmed that there was no engine fire on flight AK128, which safely returned to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2 this morning, roughly two hours after takeoff.
The airline issued a statement clarifying that the emergency return was due to a technical issue, not an engine fire, as initially reported by media.
The flight, bound for Shenzhen, China, experienced a technical issue in one of the engines that triggered an abnormal indication shortly after departure.
AirAsia explained that the indication was caused by a damaged duct, which led to the release of hot air, prompting the aircraft to return to KLIA for rectification.
“AirAsia confirms that there was no engine fire,” the airline’s statement read.
“Upon inspection, it was found that the indication was due to the damaged duct. The aircraft will return to service on March 31.”
AirAsia also highlighted that, in line with safety protocols, the pilots acted promptly upon receiving the abnormal indication.
They followed established procedures, requesting priority landing to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.
“The aircraft landed without incident at KLIA Terminal 2 at 12:06 am. All 171 passengers and six crew members safely disembarked, and the passengers were transferred to another aircraft that departed at 3:46 am,” the statement read.
“The replacement flight landed at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport at 7:51am on March 27.”
Datuk Captain Chester Voo, Deputy Group CEO (Airline Operations) for AirAsia Aviation Group, also addressed the incident. He stressed that there was no engine fire and explained the nature of the issue.
“There was an abnormal indication in one of the engines, and the flight crew acted swiftly, taking appropriate actions in line with established safety and operational protocols,” Captain Voo clarified.
“Our pilots and cabin crew are highly trained to handle such situations, and the aircraft landed safely after the proper procedures were followed.”
Captain Voo also expressed gratitude towards Malaysia Airports, the Airport Fire and Rescue Service, and other safety authorities for their prompt and cooperative response during the incident.
He thanked the passengers for their understanding and patience, ensuring that a replacement flight was quickly arranged to continue their journey.
“Safety is always our top priority, and AirAsia remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards to ensure the well-being of our passengers and crew at all times,” he added.
The airline’s swift and transparent handling of the situation has reassured passengers, with the replacement flight promptly connecting them to their destination.
Earlier, Transport Minister Anthony Loke has confirmed that both AirAsia Sdn Bhd and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) are currently investigating the emergency landing of Flight AK128, which was forced to return to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA 2).
"I will allow CAAM to conduct their investigations before making any further comments," Loke stated to the press.
As per standard procedure, he added, AirAsia would be addressing the incident in due course, he said.
The emergency occurred on late Wednesday evening when Flight AK128, en route to Shenzhen, China, was forced to turn back to KLIA 2 shortly after taking off. The aircraft had reported an engine fire shortly after departure, prompting the return.
The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department responded promptly, with Assistant Director (Operations) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar confirming that the department was notified of the emergency landing at 10:37pm.
A Fire Rescue Tender vehicle, staffed by nine personnel, was dispatched to the scene.
The flight, which had taken off at 9:59 pm carrying 171 passengers and crew members, landed safely at KLIA 2 at 12:08 am, with the fire already extinguished by the time it touched down.
Authorities have assured that the situation was handled swiftly and efficiently, ensuring the safety of all on board. – March 27, 2025