Plane slides off Thai runway in torrential rain
An airport in southern Thailand has been forced to close after a plane slid off the runway while preparing for takeoff.
All flights to and from Trang airport have been cancelled until today, when the runway is expected to re-open.
Bangkok-bound Nok Air flight DD7411 slid off the runway as it prepared for takeoff in heavy rain, said the Bangkok Post.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand in London said none of the 142 passengers, many of whom were foreign tourists, nor the crew were hurt.
The passengers later transferred by bus to Hat Yai international airport for a new flight to Bangkok, but a number decided to cancel their trips.
Earlier, heavy rain and poor visibility had forced the same 737 aircraft to circle above the airport for some time before it was able to make a safe landing at 16:55 with 120 passengers onboard, said the newspaper.
Trang is not a popular destination for UK travellers as it is off the beaten track with little tourism infrastructure, but islands off the coast are sometimes visited by British backpackers. Koh Lanta is the largest island with several developed resorts.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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