Flight Diverts Due to Heavy Rain, Arrives Late in KL; Loke Siew Fook Praises Crew's Professionalism and Calmness

(Kuala Lumpur, 8th) Although the flight was diverted to Penang due to stormy weather, causing a nearly four-hour delay before safely returning to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook still praised the professional handling by the crew.
Loke Siew Fook disclosed on his Facebook that after attending the DAP Johor state fundraising dinner in Johor Bahru, he took the AirAsia flight AK6047 back to Kuala Lumpur.
"Unexpected weather conditions are one of the biggest challenges in aviation operations. As we approached the runway, strong crosswinds and gusts forced the aircraft to abort its landing and circle over Kuala Lumpur International Airport."
He stated that the aircraft took off at 10:45 PM but had to divert to Penang for refueling, then returned to Kuala Lumpur International Airport once the weather improved.

He praised Captain Teng Huah Jer (phonetic translation) for handling the situation calmly and providing regular updates to the passengers.
"In such circumstances, the captain's clear communication and information helped everyone stay calm."
He mentioned other crew members also demonstrated professional spirit throughout the incident.
"Despite having to work overtime because of this, the crew maintained their smiles and professional demeanor, and apologized for any inconvenience caused to the passengers."
The flight finally arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2:40 AM. Loke Siew Fook said, "To show mental support and gratitude to the crew, I waited until all passengers disembarked before leaving the plane."