A BAGGAGE handling system failure at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on 18 April led to delays of between two and four hours for a significant number of arriving passengers, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook has confirmed.
In a statement on Sunday, Loke said the disruption resulted in delayed baggage delivery for many passengers, although the system was later restored the same evening.
“The system was restored later that evening,” he said.
Following the incident, Loke said he had instructed the Transport Ministry’s secretary-general to convene an emergency meeting with relevant agencies on Monday morning (20 April) to review airport standard operating procedures.
“The meeting would review standard operating procedures for breakdown management at airports. He said the review would focus on response time, passenger communication, and contingency protocols,” he said.
He added that the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) had been directed to investigate the incident and determine whether punitive action against Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) was warranted.
Loke said MAHB, as the operator of KLIA, would be held accountable for the disruption.
“This incident points to something that must be addressed at a deeper level.
“We cannot realise our aspiration of being among the world's best airports without first inculcating a genuine culture of accountability and responsibility across the organisation,” he said.
The ministry’s move signals mounting scrutiny over airport operational resilience, particularly at Malaysia’s main international gateway, which has faced intermittent service disruptions in recent years. - April 19, 2026
