Suvarnabhumi targets 6pm runway 02R reopening after repairs
Suvarnabhumi aims to reopen runway 02R near taxiway E21 at 6pm on October 29, subject to surface checks after repairs to the damaged area.
- Suvarnabhumi Airport is targeting a 6pm reopening for the damaged section of runway 02R on October 29.
- The repairs were necessary after a China Airlines aircraft became stuck in a soft section of the runway, causing delays for five flights.
- The reopening is contingent on the successful completion of surface-density checks on the repaired area to ensure its strength.
- In response to the incident, Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority has ordered comprehensive inspections of all runway and taxiway surfaces to prevent a recurrence.
Suvarnabhumi Airport is preparing to reopen the damaged section of runway 02R at about 6pm on October 29, 2026, subject to surface-density checks following repairs.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) had reported that repairs were complete at the affected section adjoining taxiway E21. The airport was accelerating checks before returning the area to service.
The reopening preparations follow an incident the previous evening in which a China Airlines aircraft became stuck in a soft section of the runway, delaying five flights by approximately two hours.
Surface checks required before reopening
Phiphat explained that Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) was reviewing the strength of the runway surface and investigating the incident. He had not yet received findings establishing the underlying cause.
Although repairs had been completed, the airport still needed to check the density of the repaired surface before reopening the affected area.
The target reopening time was approximately 6pm on October 29, subject to those checks.
CAAT orders wider airfield inspections
CAAT has instructed AOT to conduct comprehensive inspections of runway, taxiway and apron surfaces, particularly in higher-risk areas, to prevent a recurrence.
The regulator also recommended using non-destructive inspection (NDI) equipment to examine surfaces without destructive drilling, enabling checks to be carried out more quickly and effectively.
China Airlines aircraft became stuck before take-off
The incident occurred at approximately 7.20pm on October 28, when China Airlines flight CAL840, a Boeing 737-800, was preparing to depart Suvarnabhumi for Kaohsiung International Airport in Taiwan.
The aircraft had used taxiway E21 to line up on runway 02R when its wheels became stuck in damaged, soft surfacing, preventing it from moving forward for take-off.
Four aircraft following it were consequently unable to proceed along the taxiway. Pushback tugs had to move them backwards one at a time so they could use alternative taxiways to reach runway 02L for departure.
The disruption affected five flights in total, with delays of around two hours.
Four following flights moved out of the area
The ministry identified the four flights behind the China Airlines aircraft as:
- Thai Vietjet flight TVJ2308 to Phuket International Airport, listed in the ministry’s report as aircraft type B738.
- Thai Airways flight THA349, an Airbus A350-900 (A359), bound for Islamabad International Airport.
- China Southern Airlines flight CSN364, an Airbus A321neo (A21N), bound for Guangzhou.
- Thai Airways flight THA317, a Boeing 777-200 (B772), bound for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.
The four aircraft had since been moved out of the affected area, according to the ministry.
