A Malindo Air flight OD1158 bound for Penang with
37 passengers and crew on board was delayed for several hours after the
plane was halted due to a 'bomb threat' before take-off at the Sultan
Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang yesterday.
The hybrid airline, in a statement, said the flight captain was alerted
of a possible bomb threat during boarding and as per standard operating
procedures, the airline alerted the control tower and the authorities.
Malindo public relations and communications director Raja Sa’adi Raja
Amrin said the plane, which was scheduled to depart for Penang at
3.40pm, was taxied to a remote bay to disembark the passengers safely
and they (passengers) were quarantined as part of the safety procedures.
“The Bomb Disposal Unit conducted a thorough search of the aircraft and
the passengers’ luggage and later gave clearance that the aircraft is
safe,” Raja Sa’adi said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur last night.
He said the passengers, including one infant, were provided with meals,
and had been transferred on another flight which departed for Penang at
9.30pm.
Assuring that the situation was dealt professionally, Malindo Air
stressed that the airline took such threats to the well-being and safety
of passengers very seriously.
Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Azmi Abu Kassim, when met at
the airport, said the flight had to be delayed after one of the
passengers uttered the word ‘bomb’ to one of the crew during the
inspection of boarding passes.
He said during the inspection, the man showed his boarding pass to the crew and asked: “Kenapa nak periksa sekali lagi, bukan ada bom pun,” (Why do you need to check again, it’s not like there is a bomb here).
Azmi said the man was probably unaware that the word ‘bomb’ was a very
sensitive word in the aviation industry which involved the safety of
passengers and crew members.
“After being alerted by the airline, our Canine Unit and Bomb Squad were
rushed to the scene to carry out thorough inspection on the plane, but
found nothing.
“The Malindo Airline crew concerned who was asked to identify the
passenger who uttered the word also failed to remember,” he said, adding
that the police were still carrying out thorough probe on the incident
to prevent untoward incidents.
- Bernama
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