KUALA LUMPUR: A runway closure at Subang Airport near here today disrupted flight operations, leading to cancellations and diversions, causing frustration among travellers.
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) chief executive officer Datuk Captain Noorazman Mahmud said the runway was reopened at 4.30pm after repairs were made to a pothole.
Among those impacted was Suhaimi Saman, who shared his experience in the True Malaysian Airlines Fans Group on Facebook.
"Subang Airport is closed due to a hole in the runway. (The plane was) circling but then returned to Changi Airport. It must be a big hole," he said.
Suhaimi said the pilot initially estimated a two-hour wait time, but later extended it by another two hours, which led the pilot to decide that returning to Singapore was the most prudent course of action.
According to FlightRadar, Suhaimi's flight circled Subang Airport for nearly an hour before returning to Changi Airport.
Christyn Nash, a passenger at Subang Airport, described the situation as chaotic.
She told the New Straits Times that frustration mounted among passengers as the 2pm flight time approached without any sign of the aircraft or an update on its status.
She added that a lack of information regarding a potential cancellation created confusion among travellers.
She said Subang Airport staff eventually offered air travellers the option to cancel their flights and rebook elsewhere.
"They have not spoken of compensation, but the Subang Airport staff were very apologetic."