KUALA LUMPUR: Two flights bound for Jakarta have been diverted to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) following the eruption of Anak Krakatau, says the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
Its chief executive officer Norazman Mahmud said Malaysia is assisting Indonesia by allowing KLIA to serve as an alternative temporary airport for affected flights.
"So far, we have only received two diversions that are supposed to go to Jakarta," he told a press conference after opening the 61st Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Region (DGCA/61) on Monday (Sept 7).
One flight was from Oman and diverted to KLIA earlier Monday morning, while the other was from Saudi Arabia and rerouted on Sunday (Sept 6).
This came after Indonesia suspended operations at eight of its airports until early Monday, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, after Mount Anak Krakatau begun erupting on Friday (Sept 4).
The eruption caused the spread of volcanic ash across parts of Java, Sumatra and several surrounding areas, affecting an estimated 170,000 passengers so far.
