VistaJet, the private jet charter engaged by Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, confirmed that his aircraft faced a technical issue but stressed that it did not jeopardise safety.

"VistaJet confirms the recent statements of the Malaysian Authorities that one of the company’s aircraft had a technical issue in its normal course of operations before departure which at no point jeopardised safety.

"Another VistaJet aircraft was immediately made available to fulfil the customer's schedule," the company was quoted as saying by The Star Online.

Yesterday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia said its investigation found a technical fault with the aircraft's left-hand nose wheel, which was losing air pressure. 

However, it denied the aircraft was sabotaged.

"Allegations of sabotage against an aircraft are extremely serious and could impact the reputation of Malaysian aviation and the country as a whole especially in this sensitive general election period.

"It is morally wrong to make such wild and false allegations for the sake of political gain," it said.

Mahathir had made the sabotage claim after the issue came to light when he was about to depart from Subang airport on Friday. 

"It was lucky that we knew earlier or else the aircraft might have taken off and crashed.

"I think this was planned by someone. It has never happened before

"I've done this more than a thousand times and this is the first time something like this happened," he had said.