Thai Airways flight runs off runway in Bangkok storm scare

Passengers on a Thai Airways (THAI) flight got more excitement than they bargained for when their Airbus A350-900 temporarily veered off the runway upon landing in Bangkok, causing a serious incident and damaging runway edge lights.

THAI flight TG466, arriving from Melbourne on September 14, was making a standard approach to runway 19L at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) when things took a sharp turn—literally. The plane veered off the left edge of the runway during its landing roll, knocking out seven runway edge lights.

Fortunately, the crew quickly regained control, bringing the aircraft back to the runway centreline before taxiing safely to the apron.

Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rain had reduced visibility to around 3,000 metres, making conditions tricky for landing. A preliminary report by Thailand’s aviation regulator, AAIIC, classified the incident as serious. Despite the tense moment, the flight had otherwise been routine, with a smooth departure from Melbourne and a steady approach to Bangkok.

THAI’s A350-900, registered HS-THD, is a relatively young aircraft, only 7.5 years old, and has been in operation since April 2017. It was grounded following the incident but returned to service on September 25.

The AAIIC has launched an investigation to determine what went wrong during the landing. Passengers and aviation enthusiasts alike are waiting to hear the final verdict on how this near-miss unfolded at one of the busiest airports in the world, reported Aviation Source News.

In related news, India’s Gaya International Airport is gearing up for a major transformation as international flight operations kick off on October 10, with THAI taking the lead. The boom is expected right after the conclusion of Pitru Paksha, a key period in Hindu traditions.

In other news, THAI anticipates a boost in revenue following the enhancement of its code-sharing agreement with Gulf Air. THAI announced the expansion of its partnership with Gulf Air on September 29, to include new destinations: Cairo, Kuwait City, Amman, Casablanca, Athens, and Manchester.