30-12-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) A routine one-hour Scoot flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore transformed into a 23-hour ordeal for passengers, who were forced to evacuate their aircraft twice due to technical difficulties on Saturday evening.
Flight TR469, initially scheduled for departure at 7:10 PM, remained grounded as passengers endured uncomfortable conditions aboard the stationary aircraft. Travellers reported a lack of air conditioning, creating breathing difficulties in the confined space.
Passenger accounts paint a picture of mounting frustration as the situation unfolded. “The conditions were extremely challenging, with no ventilation, making it difficult for many to breathe properly,” recounted passenger Jason Tan, who detailed the sequence of events that followed.
After the first hour of delays, crew members announced a technical fault, instructing all passengers to disembark. Following an hour’s wait, passengers were permitted to re-board, with assurances of an 11:30 PM departure. However, as midnight approached, the aircraft remained firmly on the tarmac, leading to a second evacuation.
The airline presented passengers with two options: cancel their bookings for a refund or await alternative travel arrangements, including accommodation and a replacement flight. Whilst refunds were promised for cancellations, specific details regarding compensation remained unclear.
Another passenger, Steven Kang, took to social media to express his dismay, labelling it his “most challenging flight experience to date”. He opted to wait for the rescheduled service, which itself faced significant delays, eventually departing at approximately 5:00 PM on Sunday.
A Scoot spokesperson acknowledged the disruption, explaining that the delay stemmed from waiting for replacement parts to reach Kuala Lumpur. The airline confirmed providing affected passengers with accommodation, transport, and meals during the extended delay.
The replacement flight finally departed Kuala Lumpur at 4:42 PM on Sunday, touching down in Singapore at 6:13 PM – nearly a full day after its originally scheduled arrival time.
