PHUKET: Authorities were finally able to move a Russian airliner that broke down on the taxiway of Phuket airport after an aborted take-off on Saturday afternoon, allowing flights to and from the island early yesterday morning.
Air traffic controllers (ATCs) spotted smoke coming out the right engine of the Boeing 767-300ER operated by Azur Air, as the Moscow-bound plane attempted to take off from the airport at 4.30pm on Saturday.
The Azur Air flight was carrying 309 passengers and 12 crew.
Upon being alerted of the smoke, the captain decided to abort the landing, and the plane came to rest on the middle of the runway. It took about 40 minutes for airport staff to move the plane off the runway, but they were unable to move it beyond a taxiway, where it blocked other flights from taking off and landing at the airport.
The incident affected 47 flights, with some circling over the airport and then landing at Krabi, Samui and Suvarnabhumi airports instead, airport management said.