November 4, 2026 — An Emirates Airbus A380 sank into a rain-weakened taxiway at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi on November 2, delaying its departure by more than an hour and triggering emergency runway and taxiway closures through Friday.
Airline: Emirates (EK) · United Arab Emirates
What happened
Emirates flight EK373 to Dubai became stuck on Taxiway E21 at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) on the night of Monday, November 2, 2026. Airport authorities said heavy rain and flooding had weakened the pavement, and the taxiway gave way under the A380’s weight. The aircraft stopped at 21:11, was freed with a pushback tractor and cleared at 22:18, and took off at 22:22, about 71 minutes after the problem began. Injuries were not reported.
Thailand’s transport minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, ordered emergency repairs. It was the second incident on the same taxiway in a week: on October 28, the main gear of a China Airlines Boeing 737-800 operating CI840 to Kaohsiung sank into the surface, delaying five flights by about two hours.
| Closure | Dates |
|---|---|
| Runway 02R/20L (central) | 7 p.m. Tue, Nov 3 to 8 a.m. Wed, Nov 4 (13 hours) |
| Taxiway E21 | Until 8 a.m. Fri, Nov 6 (61 hours) |
| Taxiway E19 | Temporarily closed for inspection; reopening TBA |
Airports of Thailand says the other two runways are handling traffic, and air navigation provider AEROTHAI says capacity is sufficient. Thailand’s civil aviation authority has demanded an explanation and a prevention plan from the airport operator and asked for wider checks of runways, taxiways and aprons. A new Taxiway D extension is awaiting regulatory approval.
What it means for travelers
- No cancellations have been reported, and the airport says capacity is adequate, so trips through BKK should go ahead. Allow extra time for taxiing and possible holds through the morning of November 6.
- If you are connecting in Bangkok onto another airline, avoid tight connections this week. A one-hour delay like EK373’s can mean missing the last flight of the night.
- The evening Dubai departure was the one affected. If you are listed on late-night Emirates or Gulf-carrier flights out of BKK, keep an eye on the flight status before heading to the airport.
Sources
- Aviation A2Z: Emirates A380 Gets Stuck at Bangkok Airport After Taxiway Collapses, Emergency Repairs Ordered
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