KUALA LUMPUR: Scores of Malaysia Airlines passengers bound for Kuala Lumpur from Doha have been left stranded at Hamad International Airport, with some waiting for over 24 hours.
Among those affected is photojournalist Annice Lyn, who is returning from covering the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
"A group of Malaysians, including myself, have been stranded at Hamad International Airport, with some of us waiting for more than 24 hours. Our flight, MH165, scheduled to depart on Aug 12 at 8.05am local time, was cancelled, and my flight was rescheduled to this evening," she told the New Straits Times.
She added that passengers' passports had been collected multiple times, with the current situation remaining unclear and no further instructions from the airline.
"We are uncertain about what's happening. We were only informed that we'd be taken to a hotel, but it's still uncertain whether we will be flying out tonight," she said.
Lyn also said that stranded passengers had not been provided with meals or care packs.
Meanwhile, another passenger stranded at Doha International Airport also took to social media platform X to express his confusion and frustration.
User @faizalhamssin claimed that a significant number of passengers, including children and the elderly, were left without hotel arrangements or basic amenities like water and food.
"Some passengers have been stranded here since 24 hours ago (8am Qatar time). These are codeshare pax (passengers) waiting for their onward flight to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines.
"I arrived here two hours ago; my flight has also been rescheduled to tonight," he said in the post at 1.20pm today.
He criticized Malaysia Airlines for its poor communication and expressed concerns about the airline's management and maintenance of its A350-900 aircraft.