MAS flight turned around due to autopilot fault, not fire
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was yesterday forced to issue a statement refuting earlier claims on social media of a fire on a Malaysia Airlines flight.
Flight MH198 en route to Hyderabad, India had to return to Kuala Lumpur due to an autopilot defect the minister said.
He said the fault had no impact on the plane’s ability to fly but as a precautionary measure, the captain took the decision to turn back.
For long haul flights it is important that the autopilot system works properly as it will be used at some point during the journey, Liow said.
The plane touched downed in KL early Sunday morning and passengers were accommodated in hotels overnight.
The rescheduled flight arrived at its destination without incident later in the afternoon.
It is thought the confusion regarding a possible fire onboard may have been caused by a simple misunderstanding.
Early reports erroneously said the plane had to make an emergency landing due to "burning fuel" rather than saying it had to "burn off fuel" in order to touch down.
"The airline appreciates the public’s co-operation to refrain from making speculations to avoid discomfort among air travellers," a statement issued by MAS said.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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