Firefly Airlines flight turned back to Penang airport after landing gear problem
A Firely Airlines flight FY1002, a codeshare with Malaysia Airlines Flight MH9948, was forced to turn back to Penang International Airport after encountering landing gear problems, a statement from Firefly Airlines said today.
The flight, which had departed Penang International Airport at 6.55am this morning bound for Kota Baru landed safely in Penang at 7.30am after turning back.
The statement said the aircraft's landing gear was unable to retract after being airborne.
"As safety is of utmost priority to Firefly Airlines, the aircraft was required to turn back to Penang.
"This was a normal landing, therefore Airport Fire Rescue Services was not required to be deployed," the statement said.
All 64 passengers and four crew members on board disembarked from the aircraft without incident.
FY1002/MH9948 was retimed and departed from Penang at 8.50am and arrived safely in Kota Baru at 9.50am the same day.
Firefly Airlines is a full subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines.
On Monday, a Malaysia Airlines plane with 166 people on board turned back to Kuala Lumpur after it was discovered that a tyre had burst on take-off.
Flight MH192, which was bound for Bangalore, India, landed safely nearly four hours after it took off
The airline had said tyre debris discovered on the runway had led to the decision to bring the Boeing 737-800 aircraft back. – April 24, 2014.
