The aviation authority’s CEO Norazman Mahmud, however, said they had re-routed the take-offs and landings to a different runway as a precautionary measure, Bernama reported.

Planes will be taking off or landing from the north, he said.

“This is to ensure the airliners avoid the site of the incident, which is located to the south of the airport,” he was quoted as saying.

Norazman said the site of the fire was 6km from the airport.

CAAM, in a statement, said the restriction aimed to prevent any incidents that could jeopardise public safety and disrupt the rescue teams conducting aerial surveillance operations at the scene.

“The incident site is situated along a critical flight path.

“As such, this restriction is crucial to ensure the safety of aircraft in operation,” it said in a statement.

The massive fire broke out earlier this morning from a leak in a Petronas Gas Bhd main pipeline that is about 500m long.

Several key sections of the Elite highway were closed but reopened later.