Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Firefly Lead the Charge: Jaw-Dropping Emergency Landings Shake Up the Skies in 2025 – What You Need to Know!

Published on December 15, 2025

Between January 2022 and December 2025 Malaysia recorded a number of emergency or precautionary landings across commercial flights and training aircraft. Most events were triggered by equipment malfunctions, pressurisation issues or other technical problems, while a few were caused by passenger medical emergencies. The incidents underline the aviation sector’s capacity to manage in‑flight problems and prioritise passenger and crew safety. The following narrative summarises the officially verified emergency landings during this period.

2022: training incidents but no injuries

The first year considered saw incidents involving training aircraft rather than commercial airliners. On 8 August 2022 a twin‑engine training flight at Langkawi International Airport skidded off the runway. Two pilots aboard the Diamond DA‑42D training aircraft (registration 9M‑HMY) were unhurt. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), the aircraft was removed around an hour later after a runway inspection and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) opened a formal investigation[1]. An AAIB final report later explained that the aircraft’s right‑hand main landing gear failed during circuit training, causing the aircraft to veer to the grass verge; the pilots were uninjured and only the landing gear was damaged[2].

Another serious training incident occurred at Kota Kinabalu International Airport on 14 December 2022. A student pilot flying a Cessna 172P (registration 9M‑GPB) was practising landings when the aircraft bounced repeatedly and veered off the runway. After declaring a Mayday call, the pilot and instructor were assisted by airport fire‑rescue teams. The aircraft came to rest on the grass verge with damage to the landing gear but no injuries. The AAIB report noted that the flight crew evacuated safely and investigators emphasised the importance of stabilised approaches in training[3].

2023: forced landings in Melaka

A series of light aircraft emergencies took place in 2023. On 14 February 2023 a Piper PA‑28‑181 operated by the Malaysian Flying Academy suffered a mechanical malfunction during a training flight. After requesting a priority landing at Malacca International Airport, the instructor and student were unable to reach the runway and instead performed a forced landing near the Xinyi Energy Smart Factory in Jasin, Melaka. CAAM confirmed that both occupants were unharmed and a safety investigation was opened[4].

Six months later, on 18 August 2023, another Piper PA‑28‑181 on a training flight experienced nose‑wheel collapse upon landing at Melaka International Airport. The aircraft had only the pilot on board. CAAM reported that the pilot was uninjured and that the aircraft was removed from the runway to restore normal operations[5]. Investigators were again tasked with determining the cause. These light aircraft incidents emphasised the challenges faced by flight schools and the regulator’s focus on reinforcing safety standards.

2024: technical issues on commercial flights

Commercial aircraft incidents became more prominent in 2024, although they still ended safely. On 26 April 2024 a twin‑engine Diamond DA‑42 operated by a private company departed from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang. Shortly after take‑off, the crew declared an emergency and returned to the airport. The aircraft landed two minutes later and both pilots were unharmed; the runway was briefly closed and CAAM announced that it would investigate[6].

On 20 June 2024 Malaysia Airlines flight MH199 from Hyderabad to Kuala Lumpur, a Boeing 737‑800, returned to Hyderabad after one of its engines encountered a problem during the climb. The airline stated that the aircraft landed safely at 3:21 a.m.; passengers and crew disembarked, and a replacement flight was arranged while the jet underwent inspection[7]. This was followed a few days later when flight MH780 from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok experienced a pressurisation issue during the cruise on 24 June 2024. The pilots initiated an emergency descent to maintain safe cabin altitude before returning to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where the Airbus A330 landed at 8:18 p.m. with no injuries; oxygen masks were not deployed because cabin pressure did not exceed safe limits[8].

Another light aircraft event occurred on 27 June 2024 when a Piper PA‑28‑161 operated by a flying club made an emergency landing in open space near Port Klang, Selangor. CAAM disclosed that the aircraft had departed Subang Airport at 2:50 p.m. and sent a Mayday call at 2:58 p.m.; search‑and‑rescue teams were activated and both occupants were safe[9]. This incident once again illustrated the effectiveness of emergency procedures for general aviation.

At the height of the hajj travel season, flight MH156 carrying 259 pilgrims bound for Jeddah from Kuala Lumpur on 4 August 2024 performed a turn‑back shortly after departure. CAAM’s chief executive said the decision was taken as a precaution due to technical issues; the Airbus A330 landed at KLIA at around 4:56 p.m. with all passengers and crew unharmed[10]. He added that the airline had provided a preliminary report and that a full investigation would follow.

Technical problems continued later in the month. On 20 August 2024 an Airbus A330 flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur (MH128) diverted to Alice Springs Airport after a technical issue. Malaysia Airlines said the aircraft landed safely at 4:35 a.m. local time and that the airline worked to rebook passengers and address equipment limitations at the regional airport[11]. Less than two weeks later, on 2 September 2024, flight MH66 from Kuala Lumpur to Incheon returned to KLIA after a hydraulic system issue. Malaysia Airlines explained that the Airbus A330‑323, which departed at 11:45 p.m., landed back at 1:30 a.m.; passengers were accommodated in hotels and the flight was rescheduled[12]. These events prompted the carrier’s parent company to review its fleet reliability and temporarily reduce flight schedules.

2025: emergency landings and diversions

The following year began with a high‑profile emergency. On 18 March 2025 Malaysia Airlines flight MH720 from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur declared an emergency near Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Air traffic controllers received a distress call at 6:02 p.m. and activated airport fire‑rescue units. The Boeing 737 landed safely at 6:17 p.m., was escorted by emergency vehicles, and passengers disembarked normally. Authorities later confirmed that the emergency was due to a technical issue and that an investigation was underway[13].

While the March incident involved technical issues, two other 2025 events were triggered by unusual circumstances. On 18 September 2025 flight MH102 from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka diverted to Bangkok because a passenger required urgent medical attention. The Boeing 737‑800 left Kuala Lumpur at 9:53 a.m. and landed in Bangkok after roughly two hours to allow the passenger to disembark for medical care. The flight then continued to Dhaka, highlighting the airline’s commitment to passenger welfare[14].

On 21 October 2025 a domestic flight, MH2742 from Kuala Lumpur to Bintulu, encountered a sudden loss of cabin pressure over the South China Sea. The crew followed emergency procedures by conducting a controlled descent and deploying passenger oxygen masks. The Boeing 737 landed safely at Bintulu at 10:31 a.m., and Malaysia Aviation Group assured the public that a review of the incident would be undertaken[15]. Though unnerving, the event demonstrated how standard operating procedures protect passengers when unexpected technical problems occur.

Observations and conclusion

Across these four years, emergency landings in Malaysia encompassed a mix of general aviation training flights and commercial airline operations. Training aircraft incidents in 2022 and 2023 generally involved landing gear failures or mechanical malfunctions and resulted in forced or precautionary landings with no injuries[4][5]. The CAAM and AAIB ensured that investigations were carried out to identify causes and implement corrective actions. In 2024 technical issues on commercial jets led to multiple diversions and returns to base, but timely decisions by flight crews and swift responses from air‑traffic controllers prevented casualties[7][8]. The airline’s transparent communications and CAAM’s oversight underscored an emphasis on safety.

By the end of 2025, Malaysia had managed several emergency situations without any loss of life, demonstrating resilience in its aviation safety framework. Although the August 2023 Elmina crash tragically claimed lives, that event involved a charter aircraft and was not an emergency landing. The pattern of safe outcomes in the emergency landings summarised above suggests that procedures such as declaring Mayday, returning to base, and coordinating with rescue services are well‑practised and effective. Ongoing investigations and improvements—along with fleet reliability initiatives—will help the industry mitigate future risks and maintain public confidence in Malaysian aviation.

References

1. BERNAMA report on training aircraft skidding off the runway in Langkawi (Aug 2022)[1].
2. Air Accident Investigation Bureau final report for Diamond DA‑42 serious incident at Langkawi (Aug 2022)[2].
3. Air Accident Investigation Bureau final report for Cessna 172P incident at Kota Kinabalu (Dec 2022)[3].
4. CAAM press release on training flight forced landing near Jasin, Melaka (Feb 2023)[4].
5. CAAM press release on aircraft nose‑wheel collapse at Melaka International Airport (Aug 2023)[5].
6. CAAM confirmation of flight MH156 turn‑back to Kuala Lumpur due to technical issues (Aug 2024)[10].
7. Malaysia Airlines statement on MH128 diversion to Alice Springs after technical issue (Aug 2024)[11].
8. Malaysia Airlines statement on MH66 precautionary return to KLIA due to hydraulic issue (Sep 2024)[12].
9. Statement on MH199 engine issue and return to Hyderabad (June 2024)[7].
10. Statement on MH780 pressurisation issue and emergency descent (June 2024)[8].
11. CAAM press release on emergency landing near Port Klang (June 2024)[9].
12. CAAM press release on Diamond DA‑42 emergency landing at Subang (April 2024)[6].
13. CAAM chief executive’s statement on MH720 emergency landing at KLIA (March 2025)[13].
14. Malaysia Aviation Group statement on MH102 diversion to Bangkok (Sept 2025)[14].
15. Malaysia Aviation Group statement on MH2742 cabin pressure incident (Oct 2025)[15].