An aviation master is asking Australians to reconsider before flying with budget airlines after an AirAsia X flight headed for Malaysia was compelled to return to Perth on Sunday.
Travelers detailed hearing a loud explosion before the plane started to shiver and some say the pilot asked them to pray they would return securely.
Strategic Aviation Solutions chairman and aviation master Neil Hansford said individuals must assume liability for their own security when flying and visit airline ratings websites before booking.
"Australians deplorably think with their pocket and not their head," Mr Hansford said.
"Because if you go to the trouble of working out whether out a carrier's got a record or not you would look at AirAsia and you would say 'well why would I fly with that carrier who can't get seven stars?'
"If the difference in the fare was $200, is my life worth $200?"
Mr Hansford likewise said the pilot ought to have considered redirecting to Western Australia's Learmonth airbase, as opposed to coming back to Perth.
A substitution plane flew stranded travelers to Kuala Lumpur late Sunday night.
