Two flights diverted to Chennai due to technical issues

A Malaysia Airlines flight en route from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah made an emergency landing at Chennai International Airport on Monday, September 7, 2026, after experiencing a technical issue with one of its engines. The aircraft, identified as flight MH156, was carrying 186 passengers and crew. The pilot detected a malfunction in Engine No. 2 shortly after departing Kuala Lumpur and requested permission for an emergency landing from air traffic control. Chennai airport declared a full emergency at 4:07 p.m. Indian Standard Time, positioning fire tenders, ambulances, and security personnel as a precautionary measure. The Airbus A330-200 aircraft landed safely at 4:44 p.m. and was directed to a parking bay. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely from the aircraft, and no injuries were reported. Passengers were initially provided with temporary accommodation at the airport before being moved to a nearby hotel. The airline and relevant technical teams are currently assessing the aircraft and the nature of the engine problem. Arrangements are being made for an alternative flight to allow passengers to continue their journey to Jeddah, though the departure time remained unclear.