BANGKOK, Thailand – Heavy rain and rising groundwater damaged part of a runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving a China Airlines aircraft carrying 116 passengers stranded on the runway before it was safely removed. Airport officials said operations returned to normal on October 29, with no injuries reported.
Flight CI840, bound for Kaohsiung, Taiwan, became stuck near the threshold of runway 02R at 7.25pm on October 28. An airport investigation found that unusually heavy rainfall had caused substantial water accumulation, while rising groundwater affected sections of the runway and taxiway surfaces.
The runway surface reportedly deteriorated under the weight of the aircraft, prompting airport officials to close the affected section temporarily. Passengers began leaving the aircraft at 9.02pm and all 116 had been transferred to the terminal by 9.16pm. No injuries were reported.
Airport firefighting and rescue teams, maintenance staff and support vehicles worked to remove the aircraft, which was moved clear of the runway at approximately 11.10pm. Initial checks found no apparent damage to the aircraft, although the airline was to conduct a detailed inspection.
Repairs to the damaged runway surface were completed, allowing runway 02R/20L to reopen at 6.30am on October 29. During the closure, air traffic controllers redirected aircraft to nearby taxiways to maintain flight operations safely.
China Airlines arranged replacement flights for all 116 passengers and provided hotel accommodation, meals and drinks while they waited for onward travel. Passengers began departing Suvarnabhumi on replacement services on the morning of October 29. The flight also had eight crew members.
Suvarnabhumi Airport said safety checks had been completed before the runway reopened and that the incident had not affected overall airport operations. Officials said inspections and maintenance of airside areas would continue to maintain safety standards. (Story, Photo: Khaosod)
