nok air on skid row

[JAM]

A Nok Air Boeing 737-400 skidded off the runway while making an emergency landing at Don Muang airport yesterday after reporting an engine problem.

The Nok Air Boeing 737-400 aircraft which ran off the end of the runway during an emergency landing is attended to by crewmen at Don Muang airport. — PHONGTHAI WATTANAVANIVUT

Four passengers were injured during the evacuation of the aircraft.

The Phuket-bound flight, DD7506, took off about 1.48pm with 109 passengers on board.

Ten minutes into the flight the pilot reported to Don Muang air traffic control that the left engine was malfunctioning.

He requested that he be allowed to return to Bangkok and make an emergency landing.

Suraphol Isaragura na Ayuthaya, chief of Thai Airways International's emergency operations, said that athough the pilot applied braking procedures the plane had come in to land too fast.

The pilot tried to bring the plane to a halt in time but failed and the nosewheel ran off the end of the runway, Mr Suraphol said.

Nok Air is a low-cost airline set up by THAI to compete with other no-frills carriers Thai AirAsia and One-Two-Go.

The plane involved in yesterday's incident was leased by THAI to its sister airline.

Acting THAI president Somjainuek Engtrakul was informed of the accident.

Four passengers on board the flight, including one British and one US national, were reported to have been slightly injured as they evacuated the aircraft down inflatable slides.

They were taken to Vibhavadi hospital and later released.

The other passengers on the Nok Air flight were transferred to a THAI flight bound for Phuket, Mr Somjainuek said.

There were reports that smoke was seen coming from the engine.

Don Muang airport was closed for about an hour and reopened about 3pm.

The Nok Air plane was towed away for a thorough examination.

[stevem]

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