Malaysia vows to tighten airport security after pilot’s drug arrest in Indonesia

The Malaysian pilot passed through several layers of checks at Kuala Lumpur International Airport before his departure to Jakarta

Malaysian authorities vowed to identify and close security loopholes in its airports after a pilot allegedly transported drugs from the country before being arrested in Indonesia last week.

“Malaysia Airlines will also revise their protocols for background and health checks on pilots and co-pilots,” Fahmi said.

Authorities said the 39-year-old Malaysian pilot passed through several layers of checks at Kuala Lumpur International Airport before his departure to Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, where he was caught with drugs in his luggage.

The Malaysian police on Tuesday identified an airport employee as a person of interest while investigating how the pilot passed through checks with drugs in his luggage, according to a New Straits Times report.

Indonesian authorities said on Friday they had arrested a Malaysia Airlines pilot accused of smuggling more than 26kg (57lbs) of Ecstasy and a package of methamphetamine shortly after he landed in Jakarta’s international airport.