Malaysia Airlines flight MH89 from Tokyo Narita International Airport to Kuala Lumpur aborted takeoff on August 20, 2026, after black smoke was seen coming from its left engine at around 10:40 a.m. local time [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. The Airbus A330-300 was carrying 160 passengers and crew when the incident occurred during taxi onto a Narita runway [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8].
The airline said safety and the well-being of passengers and crew remain its highest priority [2]. Emergency response teams including fire engines and ambulances arrived on the scene shortly after 11:00 a.m. to manage the situation [3, 4, 6, 8]. No injuries were reported among those on board [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8].
Narita Airport closed Runway A for about two and a half hours to inspect the aircraft and runway conditions following the engine issue [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. The flight was subsequently canceled as the aircraft underwent a thorough technical inspection [2, 5, 7].
Malaysia Aviation Group confirmed that all impacted passengers are receiving assistance, including meals, lounge access, hotel accommodations where necessary, and help with alternative travel arrangements on the next available flights [2, 5, 7]. The group noted ongoing efforts to accommodate travelers following the cancellation [5].
At press time, investigations and technical checks on the aircraft were still underway, with no updated departure time announced.
