Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the Sultan Ismail Petra airport in Kota Bharu when an AirAsia aircraft skidded off the runway, before takeoff at 10pm last night. The aircraft, which was bound for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) encountered problems when its front and left rear wheel sank into the earth on the shoulder of the runway, New Straits Times reported.
In a statement issued this morning, AirAsia confirmed that flight AK6443 was scheduled to depart from Kota Baru to Kuala Lumpur last night but was involved in an accident while taxiing on the runway at Sultan Ismail Petra airport. It added that all guests were attended to and necessary assistances were provided.
It is understood that three flights to Kota Baru were forced to turn back, including one flight which returned to Penang, following the incident. At least two flights from the Sultan Ismail Petra airport were postponed to this morning. The airline also assures that all guests and crew on board the flight are safe and no injuries have been reported. Flight AK6446 from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu, which was scheduled to depart on Tuesday night, has already departed for Kota Bharu at 9 am this morning.
“All AirAsia flights from Sultan Ismail petra airport are already operating normally today as well. 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,” said the company.
