Suvarnabhumi says subsidence cause of runway mishap

Authorities seek to determine whether recent heavy flooding was a factor

PUBLISHED : 29 Oct 2026 at 14:38

The Ministry of Transport is investigating runway subsidence at Thailand’s biggest airport, Suvarnabhumi, after the landing gear of a China Airlines plane got stuck in the runway surface.

The incident occurred on Runway 02R on Wednesday at 7.20pm as the Boeing 737-800 serving China Airlines flight CI840 was preparing to take off for Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

The plane was evacuated and moved and the damaged runway section was temporarily repaired, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said on Thursday.

“It will be determined if a large-scale repair will be necessary and how long it will take. Officials concerned will limit the impacts on travellers,” he said.

It took ground crews approximately five hours to successfully move the aircraft for further inspection. Five flights were delayed as a result.

Officials are investigating whether the severe flooding that took place recently in areas east of Bangkok was a factor behind the damage to the runway, Mr Siripong said.

Suvarnabhumi airport, which opened in September 2006, was constructed on a low-lying, 35-square-kilometre plot that had been a natural floodway. Local residents for decades had referred to the area as Nong Ngu Hao, or “Cobra Swamp”.