A flight tracking system showing the plane over the Strait of Malacca
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A system malfunction forced the pilots of an AirAsia X flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah to abort the flight and return to KL International Airport 2 on Sunday.
“One auto-thrust not functioning properly. Actually okay to fly but we just returning it to base,” AirAsia X Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes told AFP in a text message, calling it a “minor issue.”
Auto-thrusters are systems that are used to ensure a plane continues to travel at a steady speed.
“Just burning off fuel as has lots of fuel as was going to Jeddah,” he said.
AirAsia later said the passengers were put on another plane which was to depart in the evening.
“As a safety precaution, and in full compliance with all international security and safety standards, the aircraft made a turn back and safely landed at 1740 hours (0940 GMT),” it said in a statement.
“One auto-thrust not functioning properly. Actually okay to fly but we just returning it to base,” AirAsia X Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes told AFP in a text message, calling it a “minor issue.”
Auto-thrusters are systems that are used to ensure a plane continues to travel at a steady speed.
Fernandes confirmed the plane, an Airbus A330 with 371 on board which took off at about 12.20pm, returned safely to KLIA2 at about 5.30pm.
Flight-tracking websites indicated AirAsia X Flight D7172 flew several wide circles over the Strait of Malacca to burn off fuel.
Fernandes called the manoeuvre a “routine” precaution as the plane was heavily laden with fuel that normally would have been used up during the several-hour flight to the Saudi Arabian city.
“Just burning off fuel as has lots of fuel as was going to Jeddah,” he said.
AirAsia later said the passengers were put on another plane which was to depart in the evening.
“As a safety precaution, and in full compliance with all international security and safety standards, the aircraft made a turn back and safely landed at 1740 hours (0940 GMT),” it said in a statement.
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