The AirAsia X flight D7237 with 359 people on board bound for Kuala Lumpur from Perth, Australia today has returned to Perth Airport due to "technical reasons", according to AirAsia X.

AirAsia X, in a statement, confirmed the flight safely landed at 10am local time about three hours after it departed.

Meanwhile, AirAsia said that the flight crew were taking precautionary steps to check the aircraft.

It said some passengers from the flight would be transferred to the next flight on Sunday.

"The safety of our guests is our utmost priority," it said in a statement.

Commenting on the AirAsia X flight, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said it was a normal procedure for a flight to turn back due to technical issuex.

"A flight turn back is the best option to ensure the passengers safety and no accident happen. Once there are technical issues, they (the airlines) have to comply with safety measures.

"Safety is the utmost issue we are concern of. That's why in Malaysia our air traffic control as well as International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO) standard have to comply with the technical requirements," he said.

He told reporters this when attending the Aidilfitri open house of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and cabinet ministers at the Seri Perdana complex in Putrajaya.

Liow said he would ask AirAsia for a report on the incident.

- Bernama