Thai Airways Jet Evacuated

SYDNEY, Australia – More than 250 passengers were evacuated from a Thai Airways jet after a tire blew, sparking small fires during a hard landing Wednesday at southern Australia’s Melbourne airport, an official said. No injuries were reported.

The Airbus A340 from Bangkok was smoking as it rolled down the runway, prompting a crash alarm, said Ben Mitchell, a spokesman for Airservices Australia, the government’s air traffic control authority.

Fire and emergency crews approached the plane within 90 seconds of landing and extinguished several small fires, he said. All passengers were evacuated on an external stairway and taken to the terminal by bus, Mitchell said.

One of the 253 passengers on board was injured, the Melbourne Airport said in a statement.

Mitchell said the plane’s crew had not reported any problems with the landing gear before touching down.

Passengers on board said the plane lurched heavily, fishtailing down the runway.

“We got thrown from side to side,” said Danny Wong, 33.