Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) said today that the severe water leakage at Terminal 1 yesterday was caused by a contractor’s failure to follow basic procedures during ongoing roof restoration works.
The airport said the incident occurred while scheduled waterproofing and drainage maintenance was being carried out on the main terminal roof.
At the time, lightning activity intensified across the KLIA area, prompting the roofing contractor to immediately halt work and evacuate the rooftop in accordance with safety protocols.
In the rush to leave the site, the contractor failed to remove plywood covers placed over drainage points, resulting in one drainage system being obstructed.
When exceptionally heavy rain followed, the blockage prevented water from flowing off the roof, causing it to accumulate and leak through the ceiling into the departure hall.
KLIA response teams secured the affected areas and cleared the hall within 90 minutes, allowing operations to return to normal.
Airport management described the contractor’s lapse as “unacceptable” and below the standards expected of critical airport infrastructure.
“KLIA is held to the highest standards by the travelling public, and we will hold our contractors and partners to those same standards,” the airport said.
Decisive action is now being taken with the contractor, including immediate improvements to work procedures and strengthened weather-related contingency protocols.
The roofing works form part of a year-long restoration and waterproofing project that began in April 2025.
The project is a key component of Malaysia Airports’ broader infrastructure renewal programme aimed at ensuring long-term safety and reliability at the country’s busiest airport.
KLIA stressed that passenger safety and service continuity remain its top priority and that contractors will be held fully accountable to prevent a recurrence.
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