THAI skids off runway

 A THAI Airways International aircraft skidded off the runway, late Sunday night while landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The Airbus A330-300 aircraft had departed from Guangzhou at 2125 and landed in Bangkok at 2320 when the aircraft’s landing gear malfunctioned. Initial reports said 13 persons were injured.

THAI president, Sorajak Kasemsuvan, said in a statement earlier today: “After touchdown at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the landing gear malfunctioned and caused the aircraft to skid off the runway…Sparks were noticed from the vicinity of the right landing gear near the engine… the matter is under investigation.”

The captain took control of the aircraft until it came to a complete stop and passengers were evacuated from the aircraft’s emergency exits.

“The evacuation was carried out by captain and cabin crew strictly according to emergency procedures,” the airline president said.

There were 288 passengers and 14 cabin crew. Initially, 13 passengers received treatment for minor injuries while evacuating the aircraft.

THAI staff provided assistance to passengers and transferred those injured to hospitals.

THAI will conduct an investigation into the cause of the incident, he said.

Suvarnabhumi Airport general manager, Rawewan Netrakavesna, said the airport closed the eastern runway, while emergency teams worked on recovering the aircraft.

Airports of Thailand may consider diverting some flights to Don Mueang Airport to ease congestion later today.

“An investigative team from the Department of Civil Aviation is now at the accident scene,” the AoT statement confirmed.

The airport is evaluating damage to the runway, but believes it can be fixed in a day.

Last week, a THAI aircraft hit severe turbulence as it approached Hong Kong that damaged the aircraft’s interior  ceiling and resulted in some passengers suffering minor injuries.

Sourced: ttrweekly