Runway at Alor Setar Airport closed after air force aircraft incident

THE runway at Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Alor Setar, Kedah, was temporarily closed today following an incident involving a Royal Malaysian Air Force aircraft at approximately 11.30am.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) confirmed the closure would remain in effect until 4pm to allow for the removal of the aircraft and runway clearing operations.

“A notice to airmen has been issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, and the closure is expected to remain in effect until 4pm,” MAHB said in a statement posted on X.

“Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates.”

This is not the first such occurrence at the airport. On 6 May, a similar incident led to the temporary closure of the runway when a Hawk 208 fighter jet was forced to land on its nose due to a front landing gear issue. That runway was closed at 5.30pm and reopened at 8pm. - August 19, 2025