Failure to engage ‘P’ gear led to car crash at KKIA departure hall

A white SUV sustained significant damage after colliding with the departure hall at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Malaysia, due to a critical oversight in gear engagement. The crash unfolded at around 4:55pm on Friday when a 66-year-old woman was attempting to switch drivers for the SUV in the departure hall. It is believed that the woman inadvertently failed to engage the P (park) gear, causing the vehicle to inch forward slowly.

In a moment of panic, she stepped on the accelerator, propelling the SUV forward. The vehicle then plowed into another car and subsequently crashed through the airport's glass doors, coming to a halt after striking a building pillar. Astonishingly, despite the severity of the collision and widespread debris, there were no injuries among passengers or airport staff.

Shahrudin Husain, the Kota Kinabalu police chief, emphasized the importance of ensuring vehicles are securely parked before leaving them. The driver, though initially unhurt, required medical attention for minor injuries sustained from flying glass shards and was subsequently treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I.