KLIA Apologises After Aerotrain Breaks Down Again

Another hiccup hit the Aerotrain at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday, prompting a quick apology and yet another round of public frustration.

The driverless train paused for 15 minutes due to a door malfunction, according to KLIA’s official statement on X. Shuttle buses were sent in to keep things moving, and by 11:01am, the Aerotrain was back on track.

But for many, the disruption felt like deja vu.

“Broken again?” user @afiqmukhtar posted at 10:52am, tagging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook. “Millions spent on upgrades and it still can’t handle full passenger loads.”

X/ @afiqmukhar. This isn’t the first time the upgraded RM456 million train system has come under fire. Since resuming operations after a 28-month suspension, it has faced multiple interruptions, drawing backlash from commuters and public figures alike.

MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung didn’t mince words, urging the transport ministry to form a dedicated task force to uncover what’s really going on.

“It’s disappointing and unacceptable,” she said, pointing to repeated issues in just one month.

Earlier reports highlighted similar problems, including jammed doors to unexpected shutdowns. On July 4, a blogger noted the trains weren’t running again, with passengers rerouted via buses.

MAHB later explained that a faulty drainage pump during heavy rain had caused flooding, triggering the train’s safety shutdown system.
Transport Minister Loke responded, clarifying that the rain-related glitch had nothing to do with the new train itself.

“It was a failure in the airport’s older infrastructure. Once water levels rose beyond the safety limit, the system did exactly what it was designed to do, which is stop,” he said.

Still, for passengers, the growing list of excuses is wearing thin. With trust in the system running low, many are asking the same question. Was the Aerotrain truly ready to return?