‘Crisis of confidence’: Malaysia Airlines under scrutiny amid safety concerns

A string of technical issues and cancelled flights in recent weeks have led to heightened concerns and frustrations among customers

Reading Time:3 minutes

Malaysia Airlines planes parked at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:32pm, 3 Sep 2024

A string of technical issues on Malaysia Airlines flights in recent weeks has sparked customer concerns over safety as well as the management of the national flag carrier, which has slashed its network, lost maintenance staff and is struggling with the late delivery of aircraft.

The latest incident involved a jet bound for the South Korean capital, which was diverted back to Kuala Lumpur mid-flight on Sunday, prompting Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke to call for an explanation from the airline.

“We will wait for the full report about the technical issue. I have asked [them] to issue a statement on the matter,” Loke said on Monday. However, the airline has yet to do so.

Crucial to Malaysia’s global image, the airline has struggled to move out from the long shadow cast by the unsolved disappearance of flight MH370 and then the downing of MH17 by Russia in 2014. Last year, the airline posted its first profit since being taken private by the Malaysian government and restructured in 2015.

Sunday’s flight marks the sixth incident of its kind this year, including engine problems and cabin pressure issues, to have caused diversions, delays and, in one case during an August 20 flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur, an emergency landing due to a stalled engine.

A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang. Photo: Reuters

Confirming public speculation over maintenance issues at the airline, Minister Loke last week said that an audit by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) found that 63 of 411 qualified aircraft engineers have left the flag carrier since January, many for more pay.