Malaysia Airlines flight MH198 which departed from Kuala Lumpur to Hyderabad, India, at 10: 20 p.m. on Saturday made an air turnback due to an auto-pilot defect, the company said in a statement on Sunday.
It denied the claims circulating in social media that the aircraft was on fire, saying the defect had no impact on the aircraft or passengers.
"However as a precautionary measure, the operating Captain decided to turn back," it added.
The aircraft landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2: 01 a.m. on Sunday. The passengers and crew disembarked safely and was given accommodation at nearby hotels.
According to the statement, MH198 had been rescheduled to operate as MH198D to depart Kuala Lumpur at 12:00 noon on Sunday and expected to arrive Hyderabad at 13:35 p.m. local time the same day.