An AirAsia aircraft reportedly skidded off the runway at the Sultan Ismail Petra airport in Kota Baru, leading to a series of delays which left hundreds of passengers stranded.
According to The New Straits Times, the incident reportedly happened at around 10.30pm on Tuesday.
The plane, which was bound for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2), reportedly skidded off the runway just as it was about to take off.
The aircraft’s front and left rear wheel reportedly sank into the earth on the shoulder of the runway.
The daily reported that passengers were forced to stay in the aircraft for almost an hour before they were allowed to leave via the front exit.
As a result of the incident, three flights to Kota Baru were forced reportedly forced to turn back, including one which flew all the way back to Penang.
Two other flights from the Sultan Ismail Petra airport reportedly had to be postponed until Wednesday morning.
The NST also reported that the airline had prepared accommodation and travel arrangements for passengers who were left stranded at the airport.
Meanwhile, AirAsia confirmed via a statement that flight AK6443 was involved in an incident while taxiing on the runway.
The budget airline said all passengers as well as the crew members on board the flight are safe and no injuries were reported.
“All AirAsia flights are operating normally from Sultan Ismail Petra airport today.
“Flight AK6446 from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Baru which was scheduled to depart on Tuesday night has departed for Kota Baru at 0900hrs this morning,” the airlines said in the statement.
