KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X (AAX) confirms that flight D7506 from Kuala Lumpur to Incheon International Airport on Aug 13 landed safely at 10.54pm due to a planned diversion and did not make a landing at the wrong airport.
The low-cost airline said the flight diverted to Gimpo International Airport earlier in the evening for refuelling following air traffic congestion at Incheon Airport due to adverse weather conditions.
“A miscommunication occurred in the cabin crew announcement upon landing, which the captain promptly clarified, confirming the diversion to Gimpo Airport was due to adverse weather and refuelling,” it said in a statement Thursday (Aug 14).
The airline clarified that the captain also apologised to guests for the inconvenience, reassuring them that the landing at Gimpo was to refuel and that the aircraft would proceed to its original destination.
Meanwhile, AAX chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail said it was an unforeseen situation caused by adverse weather in Incheon.
“Following the potential delay and the risk of landing with fuel below requirements, the aircraft was diverted to Gimpo International Airport in the interest of safety for refuelling.
“Upon completing all safety procedures, the aircraft subsequently took off for Incheon International Airport, where guests eventually disembarked,” he explained.
He noted that AAX would also review its internal announcements and onboard information-sharing processes to ensure greater clarity in such situations.
“AAX will be extending travel vouchers and reaching out to the affected guests directly,” he added.
This clarification came following reports today that the AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Incheon landed at the wrong airport in South Korea. – Bernama
