Bird Strike Forced Tawau Kl Flight To Turn Back Says Airasia

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The AirAsia flight, with 177 onboard, was forced to turn back to Tawau shortly after taking off on Saturday evening.
PETALING JAYA: A bird strike to an engine had caused the AirAsia flight from Tawau to Kuala Lumpur to turn back shortly after taking off on Saturday evening, the low-cost carrier said.
AirAsia said the aircraft landed safely at Tawau International Airport, with all 177 passengers and crew disembarking without incident.
“Subsequent engineering inspections identified the cause of the alert as a bird strike impacting an engine,” it said in a statement, adding that a replacement flight left Tawau at about 10pm the same day.
AirAsia said the passengers were provided service recovery options, including the choice of a free flight change, credit to their account or a full refund, alongside travel vouchers as an added gesture of goodwill.
It said the affected aircraft was inspected, repaired and returned to normal operations.
AirAsia Aviation Group deputy group CEO (airline operations) Chester Voo said the pilots and crew responded promptly and professionally, adhering to established procedures.
“We extend our gratitude to the airport operator and air traffic control for their swift assistance in managing the bird strike situation, a known challenge within the aviation industry despite ongoing mitigation efforts,” he said.
The airline also said it is actively working to address bird strike risk through its wildlife management programme in collaboration with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and other key stakeholders.
“This initiative focuses on bird strike mitigation at identified hotspots across domestic airports, reinforcing the airline’s dedication to operational safety,” it said. - FMT

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