AirAsia defends chief executive after regulator files police report

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - AirAsia Group Bhd defended Chief Executive Tony Fernandes on Tuesday after Malaysia's aviation regulator filed a police report against him for accusing it of ordering the airline to cancel extra flights during a recent election. "AirAsia strongly refutes the police report lodged by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) against AirAsia Group Chief Executive Tony Fernandes," the budget carrier said in a statement. The company added that it would cooperate with the police investigation and take all actions necessary to protect the interests of AirAsia, as well as Fernandes. (Reporting by Liz Lee; Editing by Darren Schuettler)