Plane skids off Bangkok runway, 13 injured

Airport staff works around a Thai Airways plane that skidded off the runaway while landing, as another takes off in the distance, at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport September 9, 2013. Thirteen passengers were slightly injured when a Thai Airways A330-300 flying from Guangzhou skidded off the runaway while landing in Bangkok according to local media. [Photo/Agencies]

BANGKOK - A flight operated by Thai Airways arriving at Bangkok's main international airport from China sided off runway Sunday night, injuring 13 passengers, the airline said.

The Thai Airways International (THAI) flight, TG 679, left Guangzhou at 9.25 p.m. local time with 288 passengers and 14 crew members aboard. It arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport at about 11.20 p.m. Thailand time.

The nose gear of the Airbus 330-300 collapsed when it touched the runway during the landing. Some passengers recalled a loud noise, saying there was a fire at the right side of the aircraft.

THAI, the national flag-carrier, said in a statement that no one was injured during the accident but "13 passengers received minor injuries while evacuating the aircraft" through emergency exit.

It said the incident is under investigation by Thai civil aviation officials.

According to the Chinese embassy in Thailand, a total of 12 passengers were injured in the incident, including 9 Chinese, 2 Thais and one Zimbabwean.

The runway was blocked to all aircraft as of Monday morning. Some delays are expected for both inbound and outbound flights in the airport.