Haze: Over 500 passengers stranded at Ipoh airport after flights delayed

IPOH (Bernama): More than 500 passengers have been left stranded at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (LTSAS) here after three flights were delayed due to the haze.

LTSAS manager Mohd Ali Osman said the delay affected flights to Singapore-Ipoh-Johor Baru (AirAsia), Ipoh-Johor Baru-Ipoh (Malindo), and Singapore-Ipoh-Singapore (Scoot).

As of 3pm Friday (Sept 13), he said 549 passengers were still stranded at the airport.

Flight visibility went down to 2,500m as of 2 pm, forcing the disruption in operations.

"A number of flights scheduled to arrive at LTSAS has also been diverted to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur International Airport ​(KLIA)," Mohd Ali told Bernama here.

According to him, the first to be delayed was a 9.40am flight bound for Singapore.

Passenger M. Sundram, 52, said he was supposed to leave for Johor Baru on the 3.40pm Malindo flight.

"I didn't expect any delay as I thought the haze was not that bad in Perak. Anyway, it's all right...better to be safe," he said.

Lily Ho, 45, from Ipoh said she was surprised initially but accepted the delay of her flight to Johor Baru.

"It is understandable, except that LTSAS is not a large airport so it is rather congested with hundreds gathered here," she said.

According to the Malaysia Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), three areas in Perak recorded an air pollutant index (API) reading of more than 100 (unhealthy), namely, Tasek Ipoh (134), Pegoh Ipoh (112) and Seri Manjung (140). - Bernama