Tony Fernandes praises pilots and crew of AirAsia X flight

PETALING JAYA: Two top officials of the AirAsia group have come out in defence of the pilot and crew of AirAsia X flight D7237 who they said had done a superb job in averting a catastrophe.
AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes hit out at critics who made wild accusations and "forget the heroics of our crew" in bringing all 359 people on board the aircraft that "shook like a washing machine" to safety.
"Super proud of all my crew led by Captain Ibrahim and first officer Vincent and Purser Ruijaruuneglai who did a superb heroic job bringing back everyone safely," Fernandes wrote in a Facebook posting on Tuesday.
Stating while the low-cost carrier does not manufacture aircraft engines and that all airlines have suffered engine failures on their aircraft, Fernandes said when the situation occurs it takes great pilots and great leadership to act in times of crisis.
"I'm beaming with pride. From videos you can see all guests calm, and from the many emails and Whatsapp I got, the captain's announcements kept everyone calm.
"If it was a full service airline the pilot would have been a hero," he said.
Fernandes also pointed out that critics were unfair in blaming the captain for urging passengers on board to pray for their safety during the incident.
"I want to thank the many Australians who have praised AirAsia for all we have done despite all the adverse press. Adelaide here we come," he added.
His sentiments were also echoed by AirAsia X Group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun who questioned DAP's Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for criticising the pilot following the incident.
"What is wrong with asking for prayers in whatever religion when you are in a tight position, seeking divine intervention while doing whatever humanely possible?" he asked.
"Making statements is always easy when you are safely on the ground. Such a situation will never be easy to manage, but the objective was very clear ... to land the aircraft safely and ensure safety of all on board, and that Alhamdulillah they did," Kamarudin said in a Facebook posting.
However, Zaid, a former law minister, has defended his comments against the AirAsia pilot who had called on passengers to pray during its troubled flight on Sunday.
"To the chairman of AirAsia, my point here is not whether it is wrong to seek divine intervention but whether the pilot's call for passengers to pray for such is reasonable or not," the DAP member stated in his blogpost, today.
Zaid reiterated that the pilot did not need to ask passengers to pray because such action could be construed as a situation that is beyond salvation.
Earlier, he had criticised the pilot for urging the passengers to pray. In a series of Twitter remarks on Sunday, Zaid said the low-cost carrier should not endorse such actions by the pilot.
"AirAsia X pilot urged passengers to pray on distress Perth flight. Good lord, I much prefer pilot don't tell me death is imminent.
"Pilot has to give hope, and leave the rest to God and the passengers. If AirAsia are big into prayers; engage proper Iman and priest," he tweeted.
The AirAsia X flight with 359 people on board was forced back to Perth on Sunday morning due to a technical problem, with one passenger saying the plane was "shaking like a washing machine".