A Firefly flight bound for Penang was abruptly interrupted when the cabin began filling with smoke, forcing the aircraft to return to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SAAS) Airport in Subang.
According to NST, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) later confirmed that the aircraft, with the registration number 9M-FYG, experienced technical issues shortly after takeoff. These issues ultimately necessitated the decision to turn back. According to Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud, CAAM's chief executive officer, the preliminary report indicated that the root cause was a failure in the plane's extraction fan.
"According to the pilot's report (PIREP), the fan failure caused the aircraft's air-conditioning system to overheat, leading to smoke filling the cabin," he explained. He also noted that there might have been other minor technical complications on the flight, but the fan malfunction was the primary cause of concern.
Despite the frightening situation, there were no injuries reported, and all passengers were safely evacuated to the SAAS airport terminal after the plane's unscheduled return. Firefly's swift response ensured the safety of everyone on board.
A video of the smoke-filled cabin was later shared online by one of the passengers, Harrell Erik Wong, who recorded the tense moments inside the aircraft. He recounted that just 15 minutes after takeoff, the plane was forced to turn back as the situation unfolded.
Source: NST
