Kuala Lumpur, El Sky News – A powerful afternoon thunderstorm sent water pouring through the ceiling of Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Terminal 1 on Friday, prompting an immediate emergency response and renewing concerns over the airport’s resilience during extreme weather.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the country’s airport operator, confirmed the incident, saying several zones inside the terminal were affected after extreme weather swept through the Klang Valley. Engineering, operations and safety crews were deployed within minutes to contain the leak and secure key infrastructure.
In a statement, MAHB said teams were working “closely with airline partners to minimize operational disruption” as the storm was forecast to continue through the evening. Authorities also escalated real-time monitoring inside the terminal to prevent risks linked to wet flooring and electrical systems.
The leak gained rapid public attention after a 26-second video, recorded by a passenger, went viral on social media. The footage shows water cascading from the ceiling structure near the departure hall, with several travelers stepping back from the affected zone while staff cordoned off the area.
Thursday’s incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of KLIA’s aging infrastructure. In July 2024, a similar leak at Gate G6 forced a temporary closure of a boarding lounge during another bout of heavy rain. MAHB has since been running several infrastructure upgrades, including a comprehensive plan to improve the airport’s Aerotrain system.
Despite the disruption, airport authorities say flight operations remain largely unaffected, and affected areas are undergoing cleanup and inspection.
MAHB has not reported any injuries and says further updates will be issued once repairs and assessments are complete.
