A Chinese passenger plane deviated from its runway when it was taxiing on Vancouver airport before takeoff on Monday morning, Beijing time, and 140 passengers on board were evacuated safely, the Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines said.

An A340-300 airplane of the company was bound to fly from Vancouver to Shanghai at 5:50 AM Monday Beijing time (2:50 PM Sunday local time), but deviated from the runway and its left tires taxied onto the lawn, the company's headquarters said in a press release.

The plane was receiving a safety check and its 140 passengers were arranged lodging at local hotels, it said, adding the incident had not affected other flights at Vancouver airport.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2007)