Malaysia Airlines is saying sorry after take-off issues on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland on New Years’ Day left some passengers fearing for their lives.
Serjit Singh, from Auckland, was on board the flight MH145 due to leave Malaysia at 8.45pm on January 1.
He said the flight took off on time, hurtling “full throttle” down the runway, before coming to an abrupt stop just before the wheels were about to lift off.
Singh said the plane skidded on the tarmac, lurching passengers forward in their seats: “I thought we were goners”.
He said he thought there was an oncoming plane landing, and that they could have crashed.
The pilot reportedly told passengers there was an “instrument issue” and he would need to pull the plane back to the gate.
It was three hours before they were allowed to disembark, during which a number of engineers made their way on board, Singh said.
One passenger was so distressed he reportedly had a panic attack and was escorted off the plane by paramedics, Singh told Stuff.
“The ordeal was harrowing,” he said.
Singh said passengers were advised to come back to the airport the following morning, for a 10am departure.
As they boarded the flight, he said he asked a flight attendant if it was the same plane. He said he was told it was, but that the plane was in “good condition, and they would arrive in Auckland safely”.
However, shortly before taking off, the plane again came to an abrupt stop, leaving him “in shock and utter disbelief”, Singh said.
“The exact same issue that was meant to have been fixed was not, and the lives of all passengers and crew on board were risked,” he said.
Singh said passengers were allowed off the plane and were later told at the gate that the issue was being fixed.
They all refused to get back onto a plane “not fit to fly” and “risk their lives”, he said.
“We are not to be used as crash test dummies.”
After about an hour of “commotion”, Malaysia Airlines reportedly announced a new plane would be sourced.
A new flight was arranged for that afternoon, and the flight touched down in Auckland on January 3.
ingh told Stuff the experience was “just out of this world” and “not on”.
He believed Malaysia Airlines staff “dismissed” passengers’ concerns about safety, and said he had not been given any explanation for what happened to the aircraft.
In a statement, Malaysia Airlines says it “apologises to passengers of flight MH145 that was scheduled to depart Kuala Lumpur for Auckland on 1 January 2020 at 8:45pm”.
“The flight was retimed twice due to an unexpected technical issue involving the aircraft system. In the interest of safety, the operating pilots decided to discontinue takeoff during low speed. After the second retiming, the airline deployed a different aircraft to service the flight.
“Hotel accommodation, meals and transportation were organised for all passengers affected while some were transferred on other available carriers.
“Safety is Malaysia Airlines’ number one priority at all times and it regrets the inconvenience caused to its passengers,” the airline told the Daily Mail.
Source - stuff
