Thai Airways International emailed the following statement to Thai news media Monday morning.
THAI clarification on Flight TG679
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) provided clarification on flight TG679 from Guangzhou to Bangkok on 8 September 2013, whereby the aircraft skidded off the runway upon landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Dr Sorajak Kasemsuvan, THAI President, said that on 8 September 2013, flight TG679, operated with Airbus A330-300 aircraft, departed from Guangzhou to Bangkok at 21.25 hours (local time in Guangzhou) and arrived in Bangkok at 23.20 hours.
After touchdown at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the landing gear malfunctioned and caused the aircraft to skid off the runway. Sparks were noticed from the vicinity of the right landing gear near the engine; the matter is under investigation. The captain took control of the aircraft until it came to a complete stop and passengers were evacuated from the aircraft emergency exits. The operation was conducted by the captain and cabin crew strictly according to emergency procedures.
The aircraft carried 288 passengers and 14 cabin crew. Initially, 13 passengers received minor injuries while evacuating the aircraft. THAI staff provided assistance to passengers and transfer those injured to hospital. THAI will conduct an investigation as to the cause of the incident.
THAI regrets any inconvenience to passengers. For more information, passengers may contact the Company's Crisis Management Operations Center (CMOC) at Tel. 02-545-3181, 24-hours a day.