Flight Delays At Kuching Airport After RMAF Jet Incident Forces Runway Closure
By K.Naveen Prabu
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- Batik Air is among the airlines affected by a temporary runway closure at Kuching International Airport (KIA) today, following a runway excursion involving a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft.
A Batik Air spokesperson confirmed that the airline experienced delays but no cancellations.
'As per my information, our flight was affected by the incident. However, operations are expected to resume as normal by 3pm.
'The delay was caused by a runway excursion, which impacted departures during the usual schedule. Flights were not cancelled, just delayed to clear off the runway,' the spokesperson told Bernama.
A spokesperson from Malaysia Airlines also confirmed that one of its flights, MH3530, was delayed for about 45 minutes due to the incident.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd had earlier issued a travel advisory stating that the runway was closed from 11.30 am to facilitate the removal of the RMAF aircraft and to conduct safety checks.
A notice to airmen was issued, with the closure expected to last until 3 pm.
The aircraft involved was identified as an RMAF CN-235 medium transport aircraft, which made a precautionary landing due to an issue with its nose landing gear indicator. No injuries were reported.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Dubai Attracts 8.68 Million Tourists in First Five Months of 2025
Passengers queue at Dubai International Airport, following Iran Monday's attack on a U.S. military base, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer DUBAI, June 25 (Bernama-WAM) -- Dubai welcomed 8.68 million international tourists between January and May this year, marking a 7 per cent increase compared to the 8.12 million visitors recorded during the same period in 2024, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. According to the Tourism Performance Report January-May 2025, released Tuesday by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the city received 1.53 million international visitors in May alone. Western Europe remained the leading source market, contributing 1.917 million tourists or 22 per cent of total arrivals. This was followed by Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe with 1.396 million visitors (16 per cent). bootstrap slideshow South Asia ranked third, accounting for 1.242 million visitors (14 per cent), while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region contributed 1.275 million visitors (15 per cent). The Middle East and North Africa region followed with 989,000 visitors (11 per cent), ahead of Northeast and Southeast Asia with a combined 771,000 visitors (9 per cent). The Americas accounted for 601,000 visitors (7 per cent), while Africa contributed 346,000 (4 per cent) and Australia 141,000 (2 per cent) during the five months. As of end-May 2025, Dubai's hotel inventory had expanded to 825 establishments with a total of 153,356 rooms, up from 822 hotels offering 150,202 rooms during the same period last year. The average hotel occupancy rate rose to 83 per cent, compared to 81 per cent in 2024, with total occupied room nights increasing by 4 per cent to 19.09 million, up from 18.34 million. The average length of stay was 3.8 nights, while the average daily room rate reached AE$620, a 5 per cent rise from AE$590 last year.
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Travellers urged to monitor changes in flight plans
PETALING JAYA: Local airlines will continue to be on alert and ready to make last minute adjustments to flight plans to keep their passengers safe following the rapidly-changing situation in the Middle East. The airlines urged all passengers to stay informed via their official media channels on last- minute updates to their itineraries. This comes after a Batik Air flight to Dubai in the wee hours of June 24 was instructed to turn back after several Arab nations closed their airspace after Iran launched missiles towards a United States military base in nearby Qatar. The flight OD713 returned to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and its passengers were provided assistance, hotel accommodation, meals and ground transportation, Batik Air said in a statement. 'This precautionary measure was taken in full compliance with international aviation safety advisories and route restrictions issued by the relevant authorities. 'The safety of our passengers and crew remains Batik Air's highest priority,' the airlines said. 'As the flight has been cancelled, affected passengers have been given the option to either cancel their booking with a full refund or rebook onto the next available flight,' it said. Batik Air flights to Dubai will resume today as both Qatari and Emirati airspaces have reopened for commercial operations. 'We are closely monitoring the evolving geopolitical developments and remain in active coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, international regulators and regional air navigation service providers. 'Contingency plans and dynamic route assessments have been implemented to ensure the continued safety and reliability of our operations,' it said. Malaysia Airlines said any operational adjustments involving Middle East airspace, including flight rerouting or suspensions, will be implemented if deemed necessary. 'The safety of passengers and crew remains the airline's utmost priority,' it said in a statement. The national carrier said all its flights are subject to ongoing risk assessments in light of current regional tensions there. 'The airline remains guided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and other global aviation authorities to ensure the safety of airspace used in its operations,' it added. It also said all its flight routes are evaluated using real-time intelligence, global security reports, Notice to Airmen and continuous surveillance through its Satcom-enabled Flight Monitoring System. When contacted, Air Asia X said it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to follow all necessary safety procedures. Several Arab nations temporarily closed their airspace late on Monday as a precautionary measure amid heightened tensions following the Iranian strike against the US base. The strike was in response to a US offensive on Sunday targeting three of Iran's nuclear facilities – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan – marking a dramatic intensification of hostilities. Qatar has since reopened its airspace, according to the Malaysian Embassy in Doha. The Iran-Israel conflict has continued for over a week as both countries launched missiles into each other's territories. US President Donald Trump announced early yesterday that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel is now in effect, urging both sides to adhere to the agreement.
Barnama
11 hours ago
- Barnama
Malaysia Promotes Higher Education In Jakarta Via MyEduTour 2025
By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar JAKARTA, June 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has embarked on a promotional effort in Jakarta aimed at attracting more Indonesian students to further their studies at institutions of higher learning in Malaysia – and in the process, forging stronger people-to-people relations in both countries. The MyEduTour: Discovery Malaysia 2025 programme, organised by Education Malaysia Indonesia (EMI) — which is the official representative of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia — along with Tourism Malaysia Jakarta and the Malaysian Embassy, was held at the embassy ground. bootstrap slideshow The Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Syed Mohamed Hasrin Tengku Hussin, said the initiative was part of the country's soft diplomacy effort featuring five public institutions of higher education, five private institutions of higher education, and a travel agency offering travel packages based around education. 'It is hoped that this programme may contribute to closer exchanges between Malaysians and Indonesians and forge stronger societal ties,' he said, adding that some 11,000 Indonesian students are currently enrolled in study programmes in Malaysia. The programme combines education and tourism for Indonesians and is in line with Malaysia's effort to become a regional hub for higher education. The embassy's Minister Counsellor (Education), Hasnul Faizal Hushin Amri, said the platform enables universities in Malaysia to offer academic programmes through interaction sessions and educational visit packages. 'The seminar provided detailed information on the programmes on offer, and this helped educators and representatives of universities to make the best choices for their students,' he said. MyEduTour is an ongoing effort to strengthen cooperation in education and tourism based on long-standing cultural and historical relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, he added.
