Air Asia, the no fills airline of Malaysia had a close shave in Kuching.
An AirAsia aircraft from Kuala Lumpur skidded off the runway as it landed here during heavy rain last night, slightly injuring four passengers.
A passenger, Balai Ringin Assemblyman Snowdan Lawan, said the plane veered sharply to the left and right after it touched down at 10.20pm and then skidded off the runway onto soft ground.
“I was not sure at which section of the runway it skidded as it was raining and dark. When I alighted from the plane, I noticed that the nose-wheel tyre seemed to have been damaged,” he told reporters.
Flight AK5218 of the budget airline had originated from the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Kuala Lumpur.
It is learnt that the four injured passengers were sent to the Sarawak General Hospital for treatment.
Department of Civil Aviation Director-General Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, when contacted, said the department had been notified of the mishap and it had sent its officers, along with AirAsia engineers, to investigate.
He declined to comment further, saying it was understood that the transport minister would issue a press statement on the matter today.
Up to early today, Bernama was unable to verify from the AirAsia representative at the airport here on the number of passengers who were on the flight.
MAB said work to tow the aircraft away from where it had stalled was being undertaken with the assistance of AirAsia engineers but the heavy rain last night had hampered the effort.
