Driver forgot to put SUV in park before crashing into KKIA departure hall, police say

Kota Kinabalu police have revealed that a 66-year-old woman inadvertently crashed her SUV into the departure hall glass doors at KKIA on Friday. According to Berita Harian, the woman stopped in the airport's second lane to pick up her child and was about to switch drivers when the accident occurred. Police Chief ACP Shahrudin Mat Husain stated that the investigation found the woman had forgotten to shift the vehicle's gear to 'P' while changing drivers.

Upon exiting, the SUV inexplicably started moving slowly, which led to the woman panicking and inadvertently stepping on the accelerator. The SUV then plowed forward, colliding with another vehicle before breaking through the departure hall's glass doors and striking a building pillar. The woman managed to escape the vehicle before the collision but sustained minor facial injuries from glass fragments, which required treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I. No passengers or airport staff were harmed in the incident.

The police are currently investigating the case under Rule 10 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 as per the Road Transport Act 1987.