Earlier reports had said two Malindo Air crew members were among eight people arrested by the Australian police for smuggling into the country RM2.95 million worth of drugs but Malindo Air said only one of its crew members was arrested.

It said in a statement today that based on the findings of its internal investigations and reports, the arrest was an isolated incident arising out of a crew member’s misconduct.

None of the remaining Malindo Air crew on the flight was detained, it said.

“The said cabin crew (member) has been suspended with immediate effect pending termination. As a responsible international air carrier, Malindo Air does not condone any act that is criminal in nature or misconduct by our personnel.”

It said it was ready to cooperate with all relevant authorities in Australia and Malaysia in this matter.

The airline said it had raised the arrest with the Malaysian consulate-general’s office in Melbourne.

“We have now learned from various media reports that the said cabin crew (member) was arrested for allegedly being part of an international drug syndicate which used various airlines’ cabin crews for smuggling drugs into Australia.”

Malindo Air said it had also learned that cabin crews from other international carriers had also been arrested on similar charges over the last couple of months.

It assured that it would “work more closely with the relevant authorities” to ensure that all its flight and cabin crews acted professionally and in compliance with prevailing international norms and laws.

It also gave an assurance that it would continue to take all necessary steps to ensure passengers’ safety and security at all times and that it would continue to abide by all prevailing international regulatory standards.

Of the eight arrested by police, two are women. They are all alleged to have smuggled heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine into Australia.

Commander Tess Walsh of the Victoria police was earlier reported as saying that a drug smuggling syndicate had colluded with the Malindo Air cabin crew to smuggle drugs into the country.

Investigators said the drugs, brought in via Melbourne and Sydney, were carried on the bodies of the cabin crew.