Poor visibility forces Langkawi Airport to temporary cease flight operation

Flight operations at Langkawi International Airport was ceased for more than three hours due to poor visibility today leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the terminal.

Malaysia Airports Berhad (Malaysia Airports) in a Twitter announced the runway closure effective 8.20am after visibility was recorded at not more than 500 metres due to the haze.

Malaysia Airports made another announcement at 11.40am to allow flight operations to resume following better visibility.

Bernama's check at the airport terminal revealed that two flights scheduled to depart the island this morning would only take off after midday.

Meanwhile, Langkawi recorded an unhealthy the Air Pollutant Index (API) of 149 as of 12pm today.

In a similar development, the Langkawi Area Fishermen Association (PNKL) chairman Mahadzir Ibrahim urged the fishermen to obtain information through the radio and television on the haze situation before going out to sea.

He said currently there are over 2,000 fishermen in Langkawi.