Mt Ruang eruption: Passengers at Kota Kinabalu airport caught in limbo

Source: The Star

KOTA KINABALU: Passengers at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) are caught in limbo amidst cancellations of flights due to the volcanic eruption at Mount Ruang in Indonesia's Sulawesi.

Passengers at the airport remained unsure if the flights could be resumed at any time or would remain cancelled since early Thursday (April 18) morning.

"I am not sure if I should go back home. The airline staff are not giving us anything official; only telling us that the flight to Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled.

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"I am worried about going back, because they might just reinstate flights," said a passenger who wanted to be identified only as Rahman.

He said he understands that the circumstances for the cancellation are beyond the control of the airlines but he added that he hopes that all passengers would be informed and given ample time if the flights are reinstated.

A Malaysia Airlines flight ferrying the body of veteran Sabah politician Tan Sri Joseph Kurup is also affected by the cancellations.

According to officials linked to his family, Kurup's body was scheduled to leave KLIA on MH 7404 at 7.15am was cancelled.

They said that MAS is trying to place Kurup's body on the earliest flight available.

Kurup, 80, passed away on Wednesday night at the Institut Jantung Negara (IJN).