SIBU: Sibu Airport resumed its operations at midnight on Sunday, 12 hours ahead of schedule after being closed for 26 hours.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH2718 from Kuala Lumpur had skidded upon landing during a heavy downpour at the Sibu Airport at 10.17pm on Saturday.
The incident forced the closure of airport and cancellation of all flights on Sunday, leaving 3,787 passengers stranded.
Sibu Airport Manager, Zainuddin Abu Nasir disclosed yesterday that the crisis ended late Sunday evening after the disabled aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, was moved to a designated area at the Sibu Airport.
“The smooth operation commenced at 5pm and ended at 7pm on Sunday. We had closed the big hole beside the grass strip and graded the tyre track.
“The work to fill up several huge holes left from the aircraft tyre movements in the grass area and the progress of cleaning the dirt on the runway were completed at about 11.15pm on Sunday.”
Zainuddin said that the airport cancelled the NOTAM (notice to airmen) issued earlier and resumed operations at midnight on Sunday.
“Through Twitter (social media or networking) at 11.15pm Sunday, we also informed our customers that Sibu Airport had resumed operations and the airlines could contact their passengers,” he told a press conference held at the airport here yesterday morning.
According to Zainuddin, 50 flights were scheduled to land and take off at Sibu Airport yesterday.
“Out of 50 flights that were scheduled, six flights involving Malaysia Airlines, MASwings and Air Asia flights have been cancelled while 14 flights have been retimed.”
782 passengers were scheduled to arrive while 631 were scheduled to depart.
Yesterday morning, the first flight, MH3401 from Miri to Sibu, landed at Sibu Airport at 9.28am with 51 passengers.
The first flight that departed at 9.53am from Sibu Airport to Kuching was also MH3401 with 61 passengers.
Zainuddin added that the cause of the skidding incident was being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and that the results would be announced by the Ministry of Transport (MOT).
The resumption of operations at Sibu Airpport brought great relief to travellers. Many of those affected by the closure rescheduled their flights to yesterday.
