THE KUCHING International Airport (KIA) reopened at 9pm yesterday, after a runway incident Monday night involving an AirAsia aircraft shut down services to and from the East Malaysian city for around 24 hours.

Malaysia Airlines' services into Kuching were normalised today while AirAsia resumed flights to and from the city yesterday evening.

AirAsia flight AK5218, which originated from the Kuala Lumpur Low-Cost Carrier Terminal, skidded and veered off KIA's runway when it tried to land on Monday night during heavy rain.

All 123 passengers and six crew on board were safely evacuated. Four passengers, however, were sent to hospital for observation and released shortly after.

A Malaysia Airports Berhad spokesman said the closure had affected some 80 incoming and outgoing flights. Thousands of passengers were stranded at the KIA and other airports throughout the state.