Passengers and crew members on board a Thai Airways International (THAI) plane whose main wheel burst in the Australian city of Melbourne on Wednesday are all safe, the THAI has confirmed.

THAI's Acting President Somchainuk Engtrakul told local media that all the 260 passengers and crew of the THAI's Air Bus 340-600 aircraft -- TG981 flight, Bangkok - Melbourne route -- were safely transferred to a passenger terminal of the Melbourne International Airport.

"There are no people injured from the accident and the plane itself is being fixed with no serious damage," he was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying.

The plane was taxing on a taxi way after smoothly passing through a runway when its main wheel No.1 burst with a spiral of smoke but no fire, said Mr. Somchainuk.

"The incident was quickly spotted by the airport's air traffic control tower which immediately sent fire engines to put out the smoke in minutes," he revealed.

Mr. Somchainuk praised the airport's air traffic control tower for the prompt action.

The plane left Bangkok at 00:15 a.m. (1715 GMT Tuesday) early Wednesday morning, while the incident took place at local time 11: 59 a.m. Wednesday, he said.

The acting THAI chief said that the national airline's aircraft did not seek an emergency landing, and that the accident was a normal incident of the international airline business.

"The plane is new, equipped with modern technology and high safety standardized systems," he affirmed.

THAI, however, has canceled its TG982 flight -- the return flight of the TG981 flight -- earlier scheduled to leave the Melbourne International Airport.

All the passengers are requested to fly to Bangkok via the THAI 's TG980 flight instead.

Source: Xinhua