KUALA LUMPUR: Frustration reigned at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) this morning when the aerotrains connecting the main terminal to the satellite building stopped operating.
The trains are believed to have stopped functioning about 8am. Eventually, a huge crowd began forming at the terminal waiting areas.
The heaving mass of people also necessitated in the escalators being shut down.
Facebook user Tan Cher Kian wrote: "Aerotrain in KLIA not working again. This time, BOTH carriages. Huge havoc. Coupled with Friday crowd, good luck to those with connecting flight."
Ricky Koh, also wrote on his Facebook page: "KLIA sky train is not functioning. Everyone is queuing for shuttle bus. Time is running out for boarding."
Airline passengers, becoming increasingly frustrated at missing their flights, were seen shoving each other trying to push their way to the front of the line.
Tempers flared as passengers jostled with each other to board the trains, which could serve only half full carriages. The airport also made repeated announcement over its speakers, urging passengers to take the shuttle buses to the other terminals.
One passenger, who declined to be named, said she was in one of the trains which was packed to the brim.
"They asked people to disembark as it was too full. When it was halfway emptied, the doors closed and the train finally moved."
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), via its Twitter account, said its trains were undergoing "corrective maintenance."
It also said that bus services were available to transport passengers to the terminals.
However, as of 10.30, the situation appears to have been brought under control, with the majority of passengers already dispatched to their respective terminals.
This is the second incident in recent times that KLIA's aerotrains have experienced problems. The last major incident occurred on December 21, when train services broke down for two hours.