Breaking News: Thai Air A330 Skids off Runway in BKK
A Thai Airways Airbus 330-300 skidded off the runway while landing at Bangkok's main airport after its landing gear malfunctioned, the airline said Monday. Fourteen people were injured while evacuating the plane, it said.
It was the second mishap in less than two weeks for Thailand's national carrier.
After the accident, workers on a crane blacked out the Thai Airways logo on the tail and body of the aircraft in an apparent effort to protect the airline's image. An airline official, Samud Poom-On, said the move was normal practice for Thai Airways after an accident.
Smud initially said the practice was mandated by Star Alliance, but later said that was not the case. The global airline grouping also said it had no such policy.
The flight from Guangzhou, China, was carrying 288 passengers and 14 crew members.
"After touchdown at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the landing gear malfunctioned and caused the aircraft to skid off the runway," Thai Airways President Sorajak Kasemsuvan said in a statement. "Sparks were noticed from the vicinity of the right landing gear near the engine; the matter is under investigation."
Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon said it was too early to comment on what caused the accident. He said Airbus has dispatched a team of experts to Bangkok to aid in the investigation. This is a developing story..
