Jakarta. A Malaysian airline has apologized to the Indonesian government after its aircraft on Sunday accidentally landed on the Indonesian part of Sebatik island in North Kalimantan.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said on Tuesday that the Indonesian consulate general in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia had accepted an apology from Sabah Air Aviation for the incident.

Arrmanatha also said that the Malaysian deputy ambassador to Indonesia had explained and expressed regrets over the incident during a meeting with officials.

On Sunday, a Sabah Air helicopter flying Malaysian officials, including Home Affairs Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, landed without permit on a helipad on Sebatik island, which Malaysia shares with Indonesia.

"They were actually going to land on the Malaysian part of Sebatik island, but the helipad in that area was not visible at that time because it was underwater. The pilot only saw the helipad in the Indonesian part of the island and thought it was their destination," Arrmanatha said, as quoted by state news agency Antara.

"Realizing that it was the wrong helipad, they immediately took off. They didn't even turn off the engine when they accidentally landed," Arrmanatha added.

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