AirAsia plane skids off Malaysia runway

Officials say an airport on Malaysia's Borneo island has been temporarily closed after an AirAsia plane skidded off the runway during a heavy downpour.

Officials say an airport on Malaysia's Borneo island has been temporarily closed after an AirAsia plane skidded off the runway during a heavy downpour.

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Transport Minister, Chan Kong Choy said four passengers had minor injuries after the incident on Monday night at the international airport in Borneo's capital, Kuching.

Malaysia Airports, the country's airport operator, said the plane belonging to Southeast Asia's biggest budget carrier veered off the runway while landing during heavy rain. It was carrying 124 passengers and six crew from Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia Airports said 24 flights were scrapped on Tuesday because efforts to remove the plane from the soft ground had been hampered by continuous rain. The flights involved domestic destinations and neighboring Singapore.