KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Tony Fernandes may be on cloud nine following his recent wedding with a ravishing South Korean beauty, but that did not stop him from posting a few tweets on the recent trouble experienced by Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ535.
The AirAsia Group chief executive officer expressed frustration over foreign media reports which among others alleged “panic” among passengers and most prominently, the purported sudden “22,000-feet drop” during a “rapid” descent.
Flight QZ535 which was bound for Denpasar from Perth on Sunday turned around just 25 minutes after jetting off due to a technical problem.
AirAsia in a statement said flight with 145 passengers on board landed safely at the Perth International Airport at 12.40pm.
Fernandes refuted the negative news reports, including allegations of cabin crew’s mishandling of the situation.
“Depressurisation happens. I have been in another airline when that happened and pilots also did an excellent job and are trained for it.
“Crew were not screaming but telling passengers as they had to sit down and belt up and get oxygen on for safety reasons,” tweeted Fernandes.
He also praised the pilots in ensuring the safety of passengers by descending the aircraft to a safe altitude.
“Pilots in a controlled manner took the aircraft down to a safe altitude where oxygen was not needed and the aircraft lands safely.
“It is frustrating when media twists stories. Our pilots and crew did a superb job. Plane lost pressure which happens to many aircraft.”
The incident took place on the same day Fernandes tied the knot with his wife only known as “Chloe”, who is said to be a stewardess-turned-actress in her 30’s.
Among the VVIP guests who attended the ceremony and reception were AirAsia chairman and Tune Group chief executive Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, CIMB Group chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, and former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.