AirAsia faces fresh probe after troubled Perth-Kuala Lumpur flight

The "technical issue" responsible for causing a mid-air drama on an AirAsia X flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur was just the latest safety incident involving the low-cost airline, ABC Australia reported.

Some aviation experts have urged caution as an investigation is carried out into what exactly went wrong on the flight, described by one passenger as like being in a "washing machine".

"When you look at the number of aircraft movements every day, these [events] aren't one particular airline," aviation consultant Trevor Jenson said.

"It is not unreasonable to [expect that], in a number of hours that are flown, you do get these events. They are well and truly within the probabilities of millions of millions.

"They are unusual events, they all have to be carefully investigated, [but] the great thing about aviation is we learn the lessons, that is why it is the safest means of transport."

Yesterday's apparent engine failure does, however, add another chapter to AirAsia's history, following at least four other incidents or accidents involving the Malaysian carrier in the past three years.