AirAsia: Delays hit flights after mid-air turnback; passengers lose faith in airline

AirAsia passengers stranded in Perth after their Kuala Lumpur-bound flight was forced to return to WA yesterday due to a technical issue.

Shock turned to frustration at Perth Airport as passengers caught up in a mid-air drama struggled to rebook flights.

On Sunday, a “technical issue” forced an AirAsia X flight bound for Kuala Lumpur to turn back one-and-a-half hours into the trip.

A passenger reported hearing a loud explosion in the left engine before the plane started to shudder, with another traveller saying it felt like being in a “washing machine”.

According to some on board, the captain urged passengers to “say a prayer” and assured them he would be praying too, to get them home safely.

Many remained stranded at Perth airport until late into Sunday night.

A special replacement flight to Kuala Lumpur was scheduled to leave Perth about 8:30pm, and finally departed at 11:40pm for Kuala Lumpur.

They landed, exhausted this morning, with one woman reporting a long wait for staff to assist with temporary accommodation.

AirAsia’s morning flight out of Perth has also been delayed.

Passengers who had missed connecting flights told they ABC they had been left to their own devices…

Source: AirAsia: Delays hit flights after mid-air turnback; some passengers lose faith in airline – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)