SEPANG - KLIA has completed its review of the water leakage incident at Terminal 1 on 14 November 2025. The incident occurred during active roof restoration and waterproofing works on the main terminal building - part of ongoing maintenance to address aging infrastructure.

The roofing contractor was conducting scheduled sealing works on drainage points when lightning activity intensified across the KLIA area. In line with safety protocols, work was immediately suspended and the team evacuated the rooftop. In their haste to vacate due to the severe weather conditions, the contractor failed to remove plywood used to cover drainage points for safety, leaving one of the roof drainage systems obstructed. 

When exceptionally heavy rainfall followed, the blocked drainage prevented water from flowing off the roof as designed. This resulted in large volumes of water accumulating on the rooftop, which subsequently leaked through the terminal ceiling into the departure hall. 

Response teams cleared and secured the affected areas within 1.5 hours, and all systems resumed normal operations safely. 

The contractor’s failure to remove the plywood covering as a required process is the direct cause of the severe leakage. This is an unacceptable lapse in basic work procedures that falls below the standards expected of contractors working on critical airport infrastructure. 

KLIA is held to the highest standards by the travelling public, and we are committed to holding our contractors and partners to those same standards. KLIA is taking decisive action with the contractor to address this poor performance. 

We are also working with the contractor to institute immediate improvements to their work procedures, including mandatory consultation of meteorological forecasts prior to commencing rooftop works, and strengthened contingency protocols for immediate work suspensions during severe weather. 

The roofing works are part of a year-long project that commenced in April 2025 to restore and waterproof the main terminal roof, forming a key component of Malaysia Airports' broader infrastructure renewal programme.

SEPANG - KLIA experienced a water leakage incident at Terminal 1 at 4.14 PM today following an episode of exceptionally heavy rainfall in the area, which coincided with an Aerodrome Warning issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) for severe thunderstorms until 6.00 PM. 

Throughout the incident, KLIA’s focus remained firmly on passenger safety, containment of affected zones, and the protection of electrical systems. Airport teams were deployed immediately to secure impacted areas, guide passengers safely, and undertake precautionary power isolation where required. Containment, clean-up and restoration works were carried out promptly and continued more vigorously once weather conditions eased. 

Water in the affected sections was cleared within 1.5 hours, and check-in counters K and L have reopened after critical systems in the area were assessed and deemed safe for use. Core airport functions including passenger processing, terminal movement and key systems such as the Aerotrain and Baggage handling System were not affected. Technical checks are still ongoing and some support functions remain under close monitoring. 

KLIA has remained in close communication with its airline partners throughout to minimise any operational inconvenience. 

A technical assessment is underway to determine the root cause of the leakage, including contributing factors from the extreme weather experienced this afternoon. Any necessary corrective and preventive measures will be implemented to strengthen KLIA’s resilience against similar events.

SEPANG - Malaysia Airports has initiated a comprehensive action plan within the Defects Liability Period (DLP) to enhance the reliability in the Aerotrain system at KL International Airport (KLIA) through a methodical and structured approach that will further strengthen system performance and resilience towards the conclusion of the DLP.

With the concurrence of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the acknowledgement of the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), the plan will commence from 15 November onwards. Comprehensive inspection, testing and where required, rectification across the overall system and its critical subsystems will be conducted from 9.00 PM to 7.00 AM daily.

During this period, full bus services will be deployed to ensure uninterrupted connectivity between the main terminal and the satellite buildings. For greater passenger comfort, more flight departures and arrivals will take place at the main terminal building to reduce the need for transfers.

Developed in collaboration with appointed contractors and consultants, the action plan comprises three structured stages to address system vulnerabilities in a systematic and verifiable manner. Each stage provides progressive assurance of the system’s reliability and performance.

The first stage focuses on identifying and rectifying system imperfections, preventing recurrence of past issues and implementing planned technical and software upgrades along with detailed inspection of the complete train system. 

The second stage centres on validation, involving simulated operational testing and targeted enhancements such as software updates, component recalibration and real-time stress testing to reinforce system robustness. 

The final stage will involve monitored trial operations to confirm system readiness and operational stability before full service resumption. For further assurance, an independent assessment will be undertaken to conduct comprehensive technical and operational audits, while APAD will perform a formal safety inspection upon completion of the plan. 

Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, said the plan represents a decisive step forward in restoring public confidence through a structured approach, regulatory collaboration and open communication. 

“Our focus remains on ensuring that the Aerotrain delivers the reliability and safety expected at an international gateway such as KLIA. This plan allows us to systematically address the root causes of past disruptions while reaffirming our commitment to passenger safety and service excellence,” he said. 

Malaysia Airports will continue to work closely with MOT, APAD and all relevant stakeholders throughout the implementation period, providing regular updates to ensure clarity, accountability and sustained public confidence in the KLIA Aerotrain system. 

Since resuming operations on 1 July 2025, the Aerotrain system at KLIA has served about seven million passengers and completed over 53,000 return trips, recording an Operational Service Availability (OSA) of 98.41%.

Sepang - Based on the recent Aerotrain incidents, Malaysia Airports has formally addressed concerns with contractors Alstom and IJMC-PESTECH Joint Venture (IPJV), and demanded immediate corrective action. Preliminary assessments conducted have revealed a declining trend in system reliability, particularly involving the vehicle and power distribution systems. 

Despite receiving data and assurances from the contractors, the information provided has not instilled sufficient confidence in the current reliability of the Aerotrain system. 

Hence, we have made the decision to implement a comprehensive action plan. The plan will be led by Malaysia Airports’ Project Team, with the full involvement of contractors, project consultants, and in collaboration with an independent technical assessor. The comprehensive plan is currently being developed with active engagement from all relevant parties. Malaysia Airports will continue to work closely with Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD) and the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to address and resolve the issue. 

As an immediate measure, a full shuttle-bus service will be deployed within off-peak hours between 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM nightly to facilitate planned as well as additional inspection and rectification works. Additionally, from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily, a concurrent shuttle-bus service will operate alongside the Aerotrain service to ensure uninterrupted passenger movement. Malaysia Airports is ready to mobilise extensive resources to provide full shuttle-bus services, according to the requirements of the comprehensive action plan. 

Since the resumption of service in July 2025, the Aerotrains have carried more than 6.55 million passengers and operated close to 95,000 trips. We remain steadfast in our commitment to restoring full confidence in the Aerotrain system. Passenger safety and comfort remain our top priority, and we are committed to upholding the highest operational standards.