KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 6): Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has confirmed that a Malaysia Airlines flight en route from London to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday was diverted to Doha, Qatar, due to a technical issue encountered during cruising.

Flight MH1, carrying 280 passengers and 16 crew members, had landed at 7.21am local time in Doha on Monday, said the aviation company in a statement. Passengers have been accommodated in a hotel near the airport, and some have been transferred to other flights, it said.

According to MAG, the pilot in command made the decision to divert the flight in the interest of safety, to ensure that the technical issue was rectified before proceeding to Kuala Lumpur.

The Airbus A350-900 departed London at 9.35pm UK time and was scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Monday at 5.50pm Malaysia time.

Following this, affected passengers took to social media to express their frustration and seek assistance from Malaysia Airlines.

One passenger, @realRGB87, tweeted on X platform expressing dissatisfaction with the airline for making him wait in Doha for over 60 hours.

Some also complained about the lack of ground staff and customer service to address the issue and reported that they were not allowed to retrieve their checked-in luggage, despite needing urgent access to medication.

“Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets the inconvenience experienced and appreciates the patience and understanding shown by passengers of flight MH1,” MAG said.

Earlier this week, Malaysia Airlines also encountered technical issues with its flight MH156, which was en route to Jeddah on Sunday. The flight had to return to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport due to technical problems.