Low cloud ceiling attributed to diverted, delayed flights at Sibu Airport

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SIBU: Several flights to and from Sibu were either diverted or delayed yesterday due to low cloud ceiling, according to Sibu Airport manager Zainuddin Abu Nasir.

He said a total of 538 passengers were affected from three diverted arrivals and three delayed departures.

“There have been consecutive (flight) delays due to low cloud ceiling, which is a weather phenomenon and not totally due to the haze.

“The pilot in command is the one who decides whether to land when visibility drops below normal aircraft operation. When visibility drops below 800m, we shall declare the minimum operation as per SOP (standard operating procedure), and the pilots will decide based on their equipment and other factors such as low cloud ceiling,” Zainuddin told The Borneo Post.

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

The delayed departures were AirAsia Sibu-Kota Kinabalu (144 passengers); AirAsia Sibu-Kuala Lumpur (163); and MasWings Sibu-Bintulu (30).

Zainuddin said he had yet to receive information as to when the diverted aircraft would be arriving here.

“As for the re-timing of the affected departures, this would depend on the airlines. Passengers would need to check with the respective airlines (on the new time).

“We will update the information on the airport’s Flight Information Display System when it is available,” he said.