A Malaysia Airlines flight inbound to Ho Chi Minh City from Hong Kong declared an emergency on approach to the destination earlier today.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH76, operated by a Boeing 737-800 declared an emergency, squawking transponder code 7700 during the descent into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN).
Malaysia Airlines MH79 Hong Kong-Ho Chi Minh City
Flight crew were established in the descent from cruising altitude when they squawked transponder code 7700. The emergency transponder code was transmitted at 02:54 UTC as the aircraft passed through FL230 in the early stages of the descent.
The nature of the emergency is not yet known.
Following the emergency declaration, the flight continued the descent and approach to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Landed Tan Son Nhat (SGN)
Having expedited a descent to 10,000 feet, the flight then continued descent and made an approach to runway 07R Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that Malaysia Airlines flight MH79 had made an on-time departure out of Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) at 08:50 local time this morning. Following departure, the flight had set course normally; climbing to flight level FL360 for the southerly service to Vietnam.
Top of descent was similarly carried out normally, and flight crew squawked code 7700 after establishing in the descent. The flight was in Vietnamese airspace at the time of the emergency declaration.
The aircraft conducting the MH79 service from Hong Kong was a Boeing 737-800, registered 9M-MLS. This is an 11.6 year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Malaysia Airlines. It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in September 2013.
