Malaysia Airlines flight diverted to Vietnam after technical issue

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysia Airlines flight from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur was diverted to Ho Chi Minh City due to a technical issue when the flight was cruising.

In a statement today, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said flight MH79, with 147 passengers and seven crew members on board, landed safely in Vietnam at 10.40am local time (11.40am, Malaysian time), Bernama reported.

“The pilot made the decision to divert the flight as a precautionary measure to address the issue before continuing to Kuala Lumpur,” the statement read.

“At no point was safety compromised. Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and the disruption to our passengers’ travel plans,” it said.

Passengers are being reallocated to alternative carriers to ensure they reach their destinations, while others are being accommodated at nearby hotels.

A check on the Malaysia Airlines website shows that flight MH79 uses a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.