Poor weather at Sibu Airport forces several flights to be diverted, delayed

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The poor weather condition (low cloud) at Sibu Airport has forced several flights to be either diverted or delayed today, affecting 538 passengers. – File photo

SIBU: The poor weather condition (low cloud) at Sibu Airport has forced several flights to be either diverted or delayed today, affecting 538 passengers.

Sibu Airport manager Zainuddin Abu Nasir said the information from the airlines revealed that three flights each were diverted and re-timed.

The diverted flights were Kota Kinabalu-Sibu (78 passengers) diverted to Miri, Kuala Lumpur-Sibu (106 passengers) diverted to Miri and Bintulu-Sibu (17 passengers) diverted to Bintulu.

The affected departure flights were Sibu-Kota Kinabalu (144 passengers), Sibu-Bintulu (30) and Sibu-Kuala Lumpur (163).

Zainuddin said the aircraft diversion were due to the poor weather condition due to the presence of low cloud.

“If there is low cloud formation at the airport, pilots will have problem to see visibility the ground.

“There are consecutive delays due to low cloud ceiling at Sibu, which is weather phenomenon and not totally due to haze. We are monitoring the situation.”

He didn’t know as to when the diverted aircraft would return to Sibu.

As for the re-timing of the affected departure flights, Zainuddin said this would depend on the airlines.

“It is advisable for passengers to check with the respective airline’s office. We will update the Information on the airport’s Flight Information Display System (FIDS), when it is available.

“We cannot give information on flights re-timing as this is subject to the airlines – they know best – they can advise flight re-timing,” he said.

He added the information on the re-timed flights would be displayed on the FIDS once it is available.