Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH360 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, China returned to Kuala Lumpur International Airport hours after taking off on Saturday evening, Nov. 9, 2019.

News of the turnaround was widely reported by Malaysia media.

From KL to Beijing

Flight MH360 took off from KLIA at 6pm on Saturday evening and was initially scheduled to arrive in China at 12.20am on Sunday, Nov. 10.

The incident was confirmed by a Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) customer service officer.

However, they refused to reveal the reason for the flight's U-turn initially.

Malaysia media subsequently reported when more information became apparent that the plane turned around due to a landing gear issue.

The flight-tracking website flightradar24.com displayed the flight path and revealed that the plane went into a holding pattern over the Straits of Malacca at about 8pm.

This was about two hours into the six-hour flight.

Malaysia Airlines statement

In a statement on Sunday, Malaysia Airlines said the operating captain made a decision to return to KLIA in the interest of passenger safety.

"The aircraft landed safely at 9.03pm on the same day and is currently being rectified by engineers."

"The flight MH360, which will be serviced by another aircraft, departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.30am on Nov. 10 and arrived in Beijing at 6.35am on the same day," the airline said.

Malaysia Airlines said that refreshments were provided to all passengers and all onward connections were arranged.

It added: "Safety is Malaysia Airlines' number one priority at all times and it regrets for the inconvenience caused to its passengers."

When news first broke that the plane had to turn around and depart at a later timing, it was not known whether the same aircraft was used.

Uncanny coincidence

On March 8, 2014, MH370 from KL to Beijing departed KLIA, but vanished mysteriously with 239 people on board.

It has yet to be found and remains one of the greatest civil aviation mysteries of the 21 century.

[The Star] [Malaysiakini]

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