Probe outcome on AirAsia X flight D7237 to be known in a month's time - Liow

The outcome of the investigation on the AirAsia X flight D7237 that was forced to return to Perth Airport due to technical issues would be made known in a month's time, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow said he had directed the Department of Civil Aviation and Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under his ministry to investigate and determine the actual cause of the emergency faced by Flight D7237 last Sunday.

"The details of the investigation will reveal more from the cockpit recorder on what actually transpired during the flight," he told reporters before officiating Klang MCA annual general meeting here, last night.

The early morning flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur made a turn back after the Airbus A330 aircraft with 359 passengers encountered technical problems in one of its two engines shortly after take-off. Passengers recounted their ordeal as the heavy vibration of the air frame could be felt inside the cabin while the crew were praised for saving the day.

The aircraft landed safely at the Perth International Airport at 10am and all passengers were transferred to the next available flight or to the recovery flight at 11:40 pm on the same day.

On another development, Liow denied an English daily report saying a container with radar equipment had gone missing from the Tanjung Pelepas Port.

He said the Johor Port Authority had confirmed that the container never went missing but had in fact reached its destination, the Netherlands.

"All transshipment remain under our close supervision. I have directed Johor Port Authority to issue a statement on this matter," he said.

The Star had earlier reported that the container containing high-tech radar equipment from Australia had gone missing after it was detained at the Tanjung Pelepas Port.

Meanwhile, Liow said he had instructed Port Klang Authority to investigate on a news report saying hundreds of containers filled with plastic wastes and scrap tyres had been abandoned at Port Klang.

He said the matter would be taken seriously as there have been cases where consignees did not come forward to claim the containers, which took up space in the Northport and Westport.

-- BERNAMA