A Malaysian Airlines jet went off the runway at Kuching International Airport on Sunday in Sarawak and got stuck, a company official said.

The Kuala Lumpur-bound Airbus A330 was preparing to depart for Kuala Lumpur when its front tyre got stuck in the soil at the end of the runway whilst making a U-turn.

"During the taxiing the nosewheel overshot the taxi-way by around 10 feet," the company spokesman said.

The runway was closed for five hours and several flights were delayed, he said, adding that there were no injuries.

Passengers and crew disembarked through the emergency doors after several failed attempts to dislodge the tyre.