SUV crashes into KKIA Terminal 1, netizens joke about 'drive-through check-in'

PETALING JAYA – An incident in which a vehicle crashed into the Terminal 1 area of Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) has drawn wide attention, with some social media users joking that the airport now offers a "drive-through check-in" service.

The incident went viral after several Threads users shared photos and footage showing a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) inside the terminal area with its front end damaged.

Glass shards were also seen scattered across the vehicle and the terminal floor, believed to be from the vehicle crashing through the building's glass structure.

Social media reaction

Threads user @Madzlan_spunky jokingly described the scene as a new facility allowing passengers to check in without leaving their cars.

"Wow, do airports now have a 'drive-through check-in' service?" he quipped. (Translated from Malay.)

Another user, @Syeilagummy, said she initially thought the vehicle had been deliberately put on display inside the terminal before realising there had been an accident.

"I thought there was a car exhibition. It turned out a car was involved in an accident and ended up in the KKIA departure area," she said.

User @Manisha02_manickam also joked about how far inside the terminal building the vehicle had ended up.

"Oops, wrong parking spot, bro," she said.

User @Xfxhxmmxxhhh said things could have been worse had the same incident happened at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

"Luckily it happened at KKIA. Imagine if it happened at KLIA and the car reached the Formula One area — a lot of money would go up in smoke," he said.

Meanwhile, user @Ck_mude_aen shared a similar experience of once mistakenly stepping on the accelerator while trying to change gears.

"It happened to me too when I mistakenly pressed the accelerator while shifting into D gear. Luckily I didn't end up in the baggage screening area," he said. – KOSMO! ONLINE