Almost 200 Malaysia Airlines cabin crew have quit, some scared to fly

Nearly 200 cabin crew have resigned from Malaysia Airlines, with some reportedly citing fears for their safety after the loss of two of its airliners and the lives of all aboard.

The flag carrier, which prior to this year had a good safety record, has been in the spotlight in the past six months following the disappearance of flight MH370 on March 8 and the shooting down of flight MH17 on July 17 over rebel-held eastern Ukraine.

The airline said 186 crew had left in the first seven months of this year, with many blaming family pressure prompted by the tragedies.

"Following the MH17 incident, there was a spike in crew resignations but the number has now decreased to acceptable and routinely expected levels," it said in a statement. "Many cited 'family pressure' as the reason for their resignation due to the MH17 and MH370 tragedies."

Malaysian Airline System Employees Union secretary general Abdul Malek Ariff told the Edge Financial newspaper that some crew "are now afraid to fly".

He also said crew shortages were forcing staff to work up to 12 hours a day. The union represents about 8,000 of the airline's 19,500-strong workforce.