Saudia B744 at Manila on Aug 5th 2014, taxiway excursion during line up

A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747-400, registration HZ-AIX performing flight SV-871 from Manila (Philippines) to Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) with 298 passengers, was taxiing for departure from runway 24 via taxiway C1 and was cleared to line up runway 24 and wait, when the crew indicated they needed a tug, tower read back "roger, line up runway 24", the crew advised having a problem, tower "roger, hold short runway 24", the crew again explained they needed a tug, "roger, line up runway 24 and wait", the captain now advising "unable!" explaining they had left the taxiway and needed a tug. Tower instructed an aircraft on final approach to go around advising there was traffic on the runway. The Boeing 747-400's nose gear and right main gear had departed the paved surface of the taxiway and were on soft ground inside the runway protected area while turning to line up runway 24, both body gear and left main gear remained on paved surface.

11 flights had to divert until the aircraft was towed back onto paved surface and runway 06/24 became available again about 3.5 hours later.