KUCHING: The eruption of Mount Ruang in Indonesia has left hundreds of passengers stranded at Kuching International Airport on Thursday (April 18) as flights were cancelled due to safety concerns.
The airport witnessed long queues forming at check-in counters and airline offices as passengers sought to rebook their flights amidst the disruption caused by the volcanic activity.
Former Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe shared his experience of having his Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight to Kuala Lumpur cancelled. “When I went to the counter to collect my boarding pass, I was informed about the cancellation due to a volcanic eruption in Indonesia. Consequently, I proceeded to the MAS office, where I found many others facing the same situation,” he recounted.
Expressing support for the airline’s decision, Dr Tiki emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety amidst natural disasters. He shared that his Kuala Lumpur meeting had to be rescheduled to May 2 due to the unforeseen circumstances.
Another affected passenger, Mohd Amirul Othman, recounted arriving at the airport at 7am only to discover the cancellation of his Batik Air flight to Kuala Lumpur at 11.15am. “I’m currently at the airport, understanding that safety should always come first,” he said.
Najwa Illiana, who traveled back to Kuching for Hari Raya, expressed uncertainty about when her family of five would secure another flight. “Our original flight was scheduled for 1.55pm, but upon arriving at the airport, we were notified of the cancellation due to the volcanic eruption,” she explained.
Azlan Hateem Abdollah highlighted the challenges of finding alternative flights, with seats on Friday and Saturday already fully booked. “It’s a bit inconvenient as it disrupts our work schedules. We had returned for Raya, but it seems our celebrations will continue here,” he remarked.
