Explain the causes of flight delays and cancellations, rights activist tells AirBorneo management

KUCHING, June 9 2026: Rights activist Peter John Jaban has today urged AirBorneo chief executive officer and the management team to address the travelling public directly on flight delays and cancellations happening over recent weeks.

Caption: Rights activist Peter John Jaban says in recent weeks, an unacceptable surge in flight delays, last-minute cancellations, and severe service disruptions have caused absolute chaos for passengers across Sarawak and Sabah.  

He said they should step up and explain the root causes of these ongoing delays and cancellations, clarify the true operational status of the fleet, and outline the immediate measures being taken to restore scheduling reliability.  

“Leadership is not tested when everything is running smoothly. Leadership is tested during times of crisis and intense public scrutiny.

“This is the moment for AirBorneo's leadership to step forward, engage with the public, and demonstrate accountability,” Peter said in a statement.

He stressed the people of Sarawak are not demanding perfection, but are demanding transparency, responsibility, and respect for their time and their lives.

He said in recent weeks, an unacceptable surge in flight delays, last-minute cancellations, and severe service disruptions have caused absolute chaos for passengers across Sarawak and Sabah.

“Every day, social media platforms are flooded with the furious complaints of stranded travellers,” Peter said, stating that netizens are taking to Facebook, TikTok, and community groups to vent their anger and disappointment, sharing photos of packed departure halls and screenshots of sudden cancellation notices.  

“They are expressing outrage not because they oppose AirBorneo, but because they feel utterly let down by an airline that carries the hopes and aspirations of Sarawak.  

“The human cost of these disruptions is staggering. This isn't just about minor inconveniences but this is about major, systemic impacts on passengers' vital schedules.

“Because of repeated, unannounced disruptions, everyday Sarawakians have missed critical medical treatments, high-stakes business meetings, job interviews, connecting flights, and long-awaited family gatherings.

“For rural communities, students, workers, and patients, air travel in East Malaysia is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity.

“When AirBorneo fails to stick to its schedule, it derails the lives of the very people it was built to serve,” Peter said.

“When flights are grounded and passenger schedules are thrown into disarray, the public expects active leadership, accountability, and clear communication.

“The role of a chief executive officer is not merely ceremonial. A CEO is the accountable manager entrusted with overseeing operations, addressing crises, and providing direct assurance to customers when things go wrong,” he said.

He added reports and public discussions indicate that AirBorneo currently operates a fleet of Twin Otter and ATR aircraft, yet only a portion of these aircraft appear to be actively serving routes.

“If it is indeed true that only three out of six Twin Otters are operational and only six out of twelve ATR aircraft are flying, then the public deserves a transparent explanation regarding these operational challenges,” he questioned.

Two teenage girls killed when car rammed into rear of stationary lorry at Batang Sadong bridge

SIMUNJAN, June 9 2026: Two teenage girls were killed when a car they were travelling in rammed into the rear of a stationary lorry on Batang Sadong bridge this morning.

Caption: The scene of the accident on Batang Sadong bridge 

The driver of the car, however, was seriously injured in the 6.15am incident.

Simunjan Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said it received a call about 6.30am and arrived at the bridge, about 20km away from Simunjan, at 6.50am.

Operation commander Eddy Sazali reported that the accident involved a Perodua Myvi vehicle and a  lorry which was believed to have been engine problem.

“As a result of the accident, two victims were believed to have been thrown from their car and were confirmed dead at the scene by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (Moh) personnel.

The driver of the car suffered injuries and was sent to the hospital by the MoH for further treatment.

The firemen then handed over the two deceased  to the police for further action.

The team also carried out cleaning  work to remove the remaining oil spills and debris from the accident at the scene to ensure the situation is safe and does not endanger road users.