KOTA KINABALU: Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) when the runway lights at the Terminal 1 failed again yesterday.
It was learnt that many flights that were supposed to land at KKIA were forced to reroute back while some landed at the Labuan airport, when the runway lights were not functioning since 6pm.
It is not known how many flights were delayed due to the incident.
A flight believed from Hong Kong, was forced to land at the Labuan airport.
Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB) officials, who declined to be named, said they were servicing the runway lights and hoped to get them back on as soon as possible.
The lights went out about 6.20pm, resulting in many flights out being unable to take off while incoming flights were diverted to nearby airports such as Labuan.
MAB officials were not able to give the exact number of flights and passengers affected but confirmed.
A passenger bound for Kuala Lumpur said he had been sitting inside the plane for the last three hours.
“I boarded about 6.30pm and only an hour later were we told by the captain that we cannot take off because of the runway lights were faulty. Since then, we have been waiting,” he said.
KKIA’s runway has been undergoing extension but the project has been riddled with delays and has yet to be completed.
According to officials, there were no work being carried out at the time the lights went off.
At press time, the runway lights were still out.
In April this year, nine flights were diverted after KKIA Terminal I runway lights failed.
MAB said the blackout was caused by a wiring problem due to construction works being carried out at the airport.