KLIA2: Bomb threat forces passengers to evacuate AirAsia flight
Astro Awani
August 3, 2016 11:22 MYT
August 3, 2016 11:22 MYT
Malaysia Airports said it is working closely with the airline and all relevant authorities.
Passengers of an AirAsia flight at klia2 were evacuated today following a a bomb threat.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said it has been informed by the airline about the bomb threat.
"As such, Malaysia Airports is working closely with the airline and all relevant authorities and the situation is being handled according to the standard operating procedures when dealing with such situation.
"Thus far, there has been no impact to flight operations for other aircraft," MAHB told Astro AWANI today.
Meanwhile, AirAsia in a statement confirmed that flight AK423 bound for Banda Acheh, Indonesia was grounded for security check following a disruptive guest on board the flight.
"As a precautionary measure, a bomb threat search was conducted by the authorities and the situation was handled according to the standard operating procedures when dealing with such situation.
"The aircraft have been declared safe by the authorities," the statement read.
The airline said all guests on board the aircraft have disembarked safely and the disruptive guest has been arrested by the authorities for further investigation.
Before this, an Indonesian couple had joked that they had a bomb in their hand luggage, causing a two-hour delay of an AirAsia Indonesia flight from Penang to Jakarta.
Kawan Tambunan, 48, and Wahyuningsih, 47, were arrested and charged in court for criminal intimidation that resulted in Kawan having to pay a RM1,000 fine.
On July 21, a man had joked that he had a bomb in a box he was carrying at the Kuching International Airport, forcing the rescheduling of three departing flights.
The 'bomb' turned out to be the popular 'kek lapis' (layer cake) of Sarawak.
The man was checking in for a flight to Kota Baharu at about 10.30am. He was later arrested.