An Emirates jet got stuck on a taxiway at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday night in Thailand, prompting urgent repair work. The Emirates Airbus A380 was preparing to depart for Dubai when it became immobilised on the taxiway.
According to a press release from Suvarnabhumi Airport, a pushback tractor was dispatched to help remove the aircraft. It took over an hour for the towing vehicle to successfully remove the Emirates aircraft from the taxiway where it had become stranded.
The incident took place around 9:11 pm on November 2. The aircraft was able to depart at 10:18 pm.
(Also read: Emirates restores 93% of pre-conflict network, banks on India demand)
“Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) clarifies the case of an Emirates Airbus A380, operating flight EK373 on the BKK - Dubai route, which was unable to proceed while on Taxiway E21 at 21:11 hrs on November 2, 2026. Upon notification, BKK coordinated with Bangkok Worldwide Flight Services Co. to dispatch a pushback tractor to remove the aircraft. The aircraft was successfully cleared from the area at 22:18 hrs and was able to take off at 22:22 hrs,” the airport said.
Here’s what happened
According to a report in Thai Examiner, the Emirates A380 became stranded on the taxiway in Bangkok after the road beneath it collapsed.
This is the second such confirmed incident in a week, after a China Airlines plane similarly got stuck at the airport on October 28.
Following the Emirates incident, airport authorities examined the site and found damage on parts of Taxiway E21. Authorities attributed the damage to continuous heavy rainfall in the surrounding areas of Bangkok airport and local flooding, which weakened sections of the taxiway surface.
“[The taxiway] was then damaged under the heavy weight of the aircraft,” Suvarnabhumi Airport authorities explained.
A towing vehicle worked for 71 minutes to get the Emirates aircraft moving again.
(Also read: Emirates CEO hits back at critics as employees get 20-week salary bonus)
Repair works ordered
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn ordered emergency repairs at the airport, Thai Examiner reported.
One runway and one taxiway have been cordoned off while repair works are underway. The runway has been shut for 13 hours, while the taxiway will remain inoperational for 61 hours.
Emergency repairs are scheduled to begin at 7 pm on Tuesday and continue until 8 am on Friday. This timeframe gives the pavement enough time to fix and fully harden, authorities said.
Suvarnabhumi Airport assured that flight operations will not be affected and will remain completely normal. Air traffic control is managing all arrivals and departures using the airport's other two open runways.