Plane stuck in mud closes Thai airport

An airplane that became wedged in mud after skidding off the runway during take-off in southern Thailand has forced the closure of the airport, authorities said today.
The Boeing 737, operated by low cost Thai carrier Nok Air, veered onto soft ground on the edge of the runway at Trang airport as it set off for the Thai capital Bangkok with 142 passengers and 7 crew onboard late yesterday.
No one was hurt in the incident, but a wheel of the plane remained lodged in the mud, prompting authorities to close the airport, Trat provincial governor Teerayut Eimtrakul told AFP.

"The aircraft's front wheel is about 15 metres from the runway's edge and has sunk 15 centimetres into the mud," he said, adding that equipment was on its way from Bangkok to help extract the plane.
Staff at Nok Air said it was raining during the accident.
Passengers scheduled to fly with Nok Air and another low cost carrier Air Asia, which also flies from Trang, have been taken by bus to nearby airports.