Hoping to avoid the criticism it’s received for its slow-to-start handling of the search for Flight MH370 last month, the Transport Ministry has demanded a report by Wednesday on the case of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH192, in which a flight bound from Kuala Lumpur to Bangalore, India, had to turn back shortly after takeoff and commit an emergency landing in KLIA due to malfunctioning landing gear.
Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein said that although he was impressed with the way the emergency landing was carried out at the KLIA by flight and ground crews, the incident should not have happenend in the first place.
The Star Online reports Hishamuddin as saying, “These sort of incidents should not happen. I have directed that although MAS is under Khazanah (Nasional Bhd), the ministry should be given the report as soon as possible.
“I give them two days. On Wednesday, I want to see an early report as this is not something like MH370 that is missing in the Indian Ocean, it is related to the condition of the tyres (landing gear).”
Hishamuddin added that the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and MAS have been instructed to be on standby while the notes of the report should be handed over to his ministry as soon as possible.
On the possibility that Flight MH192’s landing gear might have been jeopardised by an act of sabotage, Hihsmuddin said he had alerady asked the police to investigate, and urged the people not to give in to idle speculation.
“I have already directed the police to get going immediately. Our SOP, as with MH370, has not changed but any leads that we have must be verified and corroborated,” he said.
See Also: A MAS flight to Bangalore turns back, makes emergency landing in KLIA
