The accident happened at around 20:30 and left the Airbus 330-300 in an awkward position half on and half off the tarmac. Aircrew and engineers were unable to budge the aircraft and the airline had to wait until yesterday afternoon for the necessary equipment to begin the operation.
THAI engineers and senior managers supervised as a team of workers toiled to free the stranded aircraft. A THAI spokesperson said the operation was successfully completed a little before 03:00 today. Airport engineers carried out an inspection at dawn before declaring the runway open to flights.
None of the 260 people on board flight TG047 were injured when it slid off the tarmac. Somchai Piputwat, the Thai Civil Aviation Department director, told reporters that the mishap caused 11 flights to be rerouted to Udon Thani Airport. Airlines laid on buses to transport passengers the 120kms between the two airports.
Khon Kaen Airport resumes flights
News in Asia
Flights to and from Khon Kaen Airport resumed early this morning following a 36-hour closure. The main runway at the airport was blocked on Monday evening when a Thai Airways aircraft skidded off the edge of the tarmac as it was taxiing for takeoff.