KUALA LUMPUR- A Singapore Airlines (SQ) Boeing 737-8 MAX suffered a double tyre burst while landing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) on Saturday (June 13), forcing the temporary closure of one of the airport’s runways.
The aircraft, operating flight SQ114 from Singapore (SIN), touched down at about 1.27 pm with both tyres on its left main landing gear deflated. All 147 passengers and eight crew members disembarked safely, while the runway stayed shut for several hours before reopening that evening.
Singapore Airlines 737 MAX Bursts on Landing
Flight tracking platform FlightRadar24 showed the aircraft coming to a stop near the halfway point of the runway before its signal dropped. It remains unclear whether the loss of tracking was linked to the aircraft’s automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system being switched off.
Ground service equipment (GSE) soon gathered at the aircraft’s last tracked position. Visuals of the incident circulated within a Malaysia Airlines social media group, offering the first public confirmation before any official statement.
Two passengers on board, identified as Justin Davy Lee and Mei San, shared photographs of the left main landing gear showing both tyres burst. A separate video and photograph captured between 5.50 pm and 6.10 pm showed at least five GSE units and one fire engine from the airport’s fire and rescue services positioned around the stranded jet.
Runway Closure and Recovery Timeline
In a Facebook post at about 6.35 pm, KLIA confirmed the runway would remain temporarily closed until 9 pm and directed airlines and flight crew to a filed aviation notice.
The airport added that its two other runways stayed operational, though some flights faced delays. Passengers were advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest information.
Eyewitness Nisyaanthan Pusphanathan reported at 7.15 pm that the aircraft had finally been towed to the gate. The affected runway reopened at 7.40 pm. According to AsiaOne, the disruption kept the runway out of service for roughly six hours from the time of landing.
Singapore Airlines Confirms the Incident
Singapore Airlines confirmed that two tyres deflated after the aircraft landed. The carrier said the Boeing 737-8 was towed to a remote parking bay for repairs, and all passengers and crew travelled to the terminal by bus.
The airline’s return service, flight SQ113 to Singapore, was cancelled because the aircraft required additional repair time. Singapore Airlines said it arranged hotel accommodation, rebooked affected passengers on alternative flights, and assisted those needing onward connections.
“The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority,” the airline said, apologising for the inconvenience caused.
Flight tracking checks showed no record of SQ113 operating on Saturday. Using the aircraft’s registration, records indicate the jet later returned to Singapore at about 11.18 am on Sunday as flight SQ9105. The aircraft has since resumed normal operations.
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