Pin-drop silence at hub of activity

Silent tribute: Work at the busy KLIA air traffic control tower grinded to a halt at 10.55am, as officers observed a moment of silence for the victims of MH17.

KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in its 16-year history, no planes flew and static ruled over the airwaves as KL International Airport (KLIA) fell silent at 10.55am in honour of those on board the downed MH17.

Just an hour earlier, the 12 senior air traffic controllers (ATCs) on duty at the country’s busiest airport had been frantically coordinating the multitude of incoming and outgoing flights during peak period.