In a dramatic turn of events, Malaysia Airlines flight MH705 made an emergency return to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Saturday afternoon, March 15, 2025, following an engine fire shortly after takeoff. The flight, which was en route to Kuala Lumpur, managed to land safely with no injuries reported among its passengers.

Details of the Incident

According to data from FlightRadar24, the Boeing 737-800 aircraft took off from Manila at 9:37 UTC. Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew detected an engine fire, prompting them to initiate a quick u-turn. The aircraft successfully landed back at NAIA at 10:13 UTC, just over half an hour post-departure.

Eyewitness accounts from passengers have taken to social media to document the alarming event. One passenger, identified as @dasunhegoda, shared an image on X (formerly Twitter) showing flames shooting from the aircraft's left engine. He praised the flight crew's quick response, stating, “The engine failed shortly after take-off.”

In response to the outpouring of concern, Malaysia Airlines expressed their relief at the passengers’ safety, commenting, “We are relieved to hear that you are safe and truly appreciate your understanding during such a difficult situation.”

Another passenger, Adely Kassim, recounted his experience on Facebook, revealing, “I observed a flicker of lights but was initially unaware of the fire. The vibration felt was not normal though.” Thankfully, all passengers were safely evacuated upon landing.

Potential Cause and Investigation

Filipino aviation news outlet Aviation Updates Philippines released video footage indicating a suspected bird strike as the possible cause of the malfunction, with flames and smoke visibly coming from the affected engine. The specific aircraft involved in this incident is a 12-year-old Boeing 737-800 registered as 9M-MSB, equipped with two CFM56 engines.

While Malaysia Airlines has yet to issue a detailed official statement regarding this episode, the company is likely reviewing protocols and conducting a thorough investigation into the malfunction.

A Pattern of Technical Difficulties

This incident comes on the heels of previous technical challenges faced by Malaysia Airlines. Just months earlier, flight MH199 was forced to make an emergency landing at Hyderabad Airport on June 20, 2024, due to an engine malfunction just after takeoff. The same aircraft model, another Boeing 737-800 registered as 9M-MXU, is currently grounded while undergoing inspection.

Additionally, in August 2024, flight MH128 had to divert to Alice Springs after experiencing mid-flight engine problems, and another flight to Seoul on September 1, 2024, had to return due to hydraulic failure.

Looking Ahead

Malaysia Airlines typically operates two daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Seoul, with a single flight on Wednesdays. The recent frequency of these technical issues raises questions about the airline's operational effectiveness and safety measures.

As the situation develops, passengers and stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed through reliable news sources for any updates.