Cabin panel falls during landing on AirAsia flight from S’pore to KL, passengers unharmed
A cabin panel fell during landing on an AirAsia flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (KL) on April 4.
Shin Min Daily News reported that a section of the cabin ceiling came loose during landing and fell, but did not hit any passengers.
Passengers unharmed
A passenger, who only wished to be known as Mr Tan, told Shin Min he was on AirAsia flight AK720 from Singapore to KL on April 4. The aircraft had just touched down at around 10.10pm when the incident occurred.
He said the landing appeared normal, but as the plane touched down, he heard a strange sound and saw a panel above several rows in front of him fall from the ceiling.
“The sound of landing was quite loud, so the noise of the panel falling wasn’t very noticeable,” he said.
The panel, which covered the cabin lighting fixtures, was relatively large. Part of it landed on the seats, while another section remained suspended in mid-air.
Mr Tan said many passengers were shocked, while some laughed in disbelief at what had happened.
“Several passengers seated in front of me burst out laughing — probably because they couldn’t believe something like this could happen,” he said.
He added that as the plane had just landed, the crew only made an announcement reminding passengers to remain seated and keep their seatbelts fastened.
No one was seated where the panel fell, and it did not obstruct the aisle. The aircraft taxied normally, and passengers disembarked safely.
Mr Tan said although no one was harmed, the incident raises concerns about aviation safety.
“Regular checks are very important. If it had hit someone, it would have been serious — especially if it was a child, or if a larger section of the cabin had fallen. You can’t take it lightly just because it’s a short flight,” he said.
In response to Stomp’s queries, Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, General Manager of AirAsia Malaysia, confirmed that flight AK720 landed safely in KL, with no reported injuries to passengers or crew. The incident involved a section hose of a cabin panel becoming loose and dislodging as the aircraft was landing.
The aircraft, operating from Singapore Changi Airport, had undergone all required maintenance checks, including routine 36-hour inspections involving visual and physical assessments, with satisfactory preflight inspection completed before departure.
“Our cabin crew responded swiftly and in accordance with established safety procedures upon the incident being reported, ensuring the guests seated on the seats beneath the panel were promptly attended to and comfortably relocated,” he said.
He added that the aircraft was immediately inspected by their engineering team, with the affected panel refitted and secured in line with strict safety standards.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank our guests for their understanding, as safety remains our absolute priority in every aspect of our operations.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a statement from AirAsia.
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