KUCHING: As conditions improved, airlines resumed flight operations to Sabah and Sarawak as early as 7pm on Thursday evening.
According to Civil Aviation of Malaysia (CAAM), volcanic ash clouds began clearing around 7pm in the Sarawak region and completely cleared the entire Borneo by 10pm on Thursday.
Air Traffic Control in both states of Borneo extended its operation hours to facilitate recovery, with CAAM advising airlines and aircraft operators to continuously monitor meteorological updates and advisories related to volcanic ash.
Sarawak Minister for Transport, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, in a press statement emphasised the severity of the situation.
"It was a natural disaster, although it had caused inconveniences and disappointment to most passengers, but we must take precaution and put the peoples and passengers’ safety first," he said.
Additionally, the Ministry of Transport Sarawak advised airlines to arrange extra flights or larger aircraft to transport stranded passengers to their intended destinations.
With many passengers awaiting rescheduled flights and existing schedules fully booked due to the festive season, affected passengers were urged to contact respective airlines for updates and assistance.
The CAAM has issued safety information in response to the eruption of Mount Ruang in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia on Thursday morning.
Both Ministries of Transport Malaysia and Sarawak pledged to closely monitor the situation, collaborating with relevant authorities such as the Meteorological Department Malaysia, CAAM, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), and airlines to ensure passenger safety. The volcanic ash hazard warning in North Sulawesi has led to the formation of ash clouds moving towards the Kota Kinabalu FIR, posing a risk to aircraft safety in the Borneo Island airspace, directly affecting flight operations to Sarawak and Sabah.
CAAM highlighted potential hazards posed by volcanic ash clouds to aircraft engines, systems, and avionics, including engine failure, reduced visibility, and damage to critical components, underlining the need for proactive measures to mitigate risks to flight safety. -UKASnews
