MANILA- Malaysia Airlines (MH) flight MH705 returned to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Saturday afternoon (March 15, 2025) after experiencing an engine fire shortly after takeoff.
The flight, bound for Kuala Lumpur, landed safely with no injuries reported among passengers.
Photo: By byeangel from Tsingtao, China – Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-8H6(WL) 9M-MLM, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39503715Malaysia Airlines Flight Engine Fire
According to FlightRadar24 data, Malaysia Airlines flight took off from Manila at 9:37 UTC. Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew reported an engine fire and decided to make a u-turn. Flight MH705 landed safely back at Manila Airport at 10:13 UTC.
Social media evidence documented the incident, with passenger @dasunhegoda posting an image on X showing flames erupting from an engine mid-flight. “The engine failed shortly after take-off,” he stated, while praising the flight crew’s professional handling of the emergency.
Scary experience!
I was on @MAS flight MH705 when the engine failed & caught fire after takeoff from Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl Airport, #Philippines.
Huge thanks to the pilots & cabin crew for keeping us safe. @Boeing @BoeingAirplanes @boeing pic.twitter.com/baKuZyG85L
— Dasun Hegoda (@dasunhegoda) March 15, 2025
Malaysia Airlines responded to the passenger’s post, stating: “We are relieved to hear that you are safe and truly appreciate your understanding during such a difficult situation.”
Another passenger, Adely Kassim, described his experience on Facebook, noting he observed a “flicker of lights” but was initially unaware of the fire. “The vibration felt was not normal though,” he wrote, confirming the aircraft’s safe return to Manila.
Filipino aviation news outlet Aviation Updates Philippines shared video footage appearing to show flames and smoke emanating from the aircraft’s left engine. The platform attributed the malfunction to a suspected bird strike.
The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 737-800 and is registered as 9M-MSB. It is a 12-year-old aircraft and is powered by two CFM56 engines.
Malaysia Airlines has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident.
Photo: By lasta29 – Malaysia Airlines, A330-300, 9M-MTK, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42863945Similar Incidents
Malaysia Airlines flight MH199 executed an emergency landing at Hyderabad Airport (HYD) on June 20, 2024, after experiencing technical difficulties shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 138 passengers bound for Kuala Lumpur (KUL), departed at 12:45 am Thursday before returning to the airport.
Airport officials reported the aircraft suffered an engine malfunction that produced visible sparks from the affected engine. Passengers remain stranded at the airport as the aircraft continues to be grounded for inspection and repairs.
The aircraft involved, registered as 9M-MXU, is 10.1 years old and operates with CFM56 engines.
This incident follows a pattern of recent technical issues for Malaysia Airlines. In August 2024, flight MH128 from Melbourne (MEL) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL), operated by an Airbus A330-323, made an emergency landing in Alice Springs (ASP) due to mid-flight engine problems.
That aircraft had departed Melbourne at 11:30 PM local time with an expected arrival in Kuala Lumpur at 6 AM local time.
On September 1, 2024, another Malaysia Airlines flight headed to Seoul (ICN), South Korea, experienced hydraulic failure, forcing it to return to Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).
The Malaysian flag carrier typically operates two daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Seoul, except on Wednesdays when it runs a single flight. Reports indicate the aircraft experienced technical issues with one of its hydraulic systems.
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