AirAsia flight makes emergency landing after engine fire

An AirAsia flight bound for Shenzhen, China, faced a mid-flight crisis when its right engine caught fire, prompting an emergency landing at KLIA2.

The Airbus A320-216, carrying 171 passengers and crew, departed at 9.59pm but returned safely at 12.08am after the onboard Halon system extinguished the blaze.

The incident began with a pneumatic ducting burst, a critical component for engine and cabin air pressure.

All aboard disembarked unharmed, a testament to swift action and effective safety measures.

What happened aboard AirAsia flight AK128

The distress call came at 10.37pm, alerting Selangor Fire and Rescue. Assistant Director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar confirmed nine firefighters and a fire engine rushed to the runway.

“The Halon system fully extinguished the fire mid-flight,” Mukhtar said.

“All 171 passengers and crew exited safely.” He identified the cause as a pneumatic ducting burst.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke addressed the incident.

“AirAsia and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia are investigating,” he said.

“The airline will issue a statement soon.”

Loke emphasised procedure.

“We’ll let CAAM complete their probe before commenting further,” he told reporters.

Inside AirAsia’s emergency response

Flight AK128 left KLIA2 on schedule at 9.59pm.

Trouble struck soon after, forcing the pilots to turn back. The pneumatic ducting failure—a rare event—set off the engine fire.

The Halon system, designed to smother flames with gas, worked as intended. It doused the fire before the plane hit the tarmac at 12.08am. Safety protocols clicked into place seamlessly.

CAAM now leads the investigation. They’ll examine whether the burst stemmed from a mechanical fault or another issue.

Additionally, KLIA2’s response shone. The terminal, a hub for low-cost carriers, managed the emergency landing with precision. Firefighters were on site, ready to act.

An engine fire on AirAsia flight AK128 tested the airline’s mettle, but a safe emergency landing prevailed.

With 171 lives secured, CAAM and AirAsia now hunt for answers. The incident underscores aviation’s high stakes—and its capacity for resilience.