5 replies to this topic

[Snowy]

Phuket plane crash

A passenger jet of One-To-Go Airlines with 128 people aboard crashed while landing at Phuket Airport in southern Thailand late Sunday afternoon and rescue workers said the death toll could be high.

The plane of the budget airline skidded off the runway after landing and crashed into trees, bursting into fire, said Channel 7 TV.

Initial reports estimated that at least 60 passengers died in the fiery accident.

Chaisak Angsuwan, director general of the Air Transport Authority of Thailand said the aircraft broke in two as it attempted to land at Phuket airport in bad weather.

Chaisak told TITV that there was heavy rain when flight OG269 of parent Orient Thai Airways traveling from Bangkok to Phuket attempted to make a landing.

"The visibility was poor as the pilot attempted to land. He decided to make a go-around but the plane lost balance and crashed. It was torn into two parts," he said.

Airport officials and rescue workers are still working to help the victims from the plane which caught fire after it crashlanded and skidded off the runway.

Authorities said there were 123 passengers and five crew members on board when the plane crashed at about 4pm Sunday afternoon.

Weather in Phuket has been bad for several days, with thunderstorms and high wind gusts at times.

http://www.bangkokpost.net/topstories/tops...s.php?id=121720

[DollyLamma]

Depending on which news bulletin account you read, it looks like there are 74- 80 dead, many missing, with some estimates set at 100+ dead. I flew that flight not less than five weeks ago from BKk to Phuket. SCARY !!!!!

[mauRICE]

As at the time of this posting, the Associated Press reports that 88 people perished in the crash.

I'm sure our thoughts and prayers are with the survivors and the loved ones of those who were killed.

Unconfirmed initial reports suggest pilot error and a faulty, old aircraft (30 years old) lacking the mechanisms and technology to withstand the bad weather and ensuing crash. And apparently there was no local insurance on the plane.

Perhaps the Thais should have built a bigger swing.

[jinks]

The BBC in the UK has just shown a video taken by a survivor !
The video may be on the website later http://news.bbc.co.uk/

The video has been found......

Link from Doug ... tings n tongs board.

Passengers video.... after the commercial ad

http://www.iltasanomat.fi/videot/?id=1437166&ap=1

The BBc stated that the plane tried to abort its landing and was caught by the high winds.

I too fly to Phuket every time I am in Thailand.
It's still the safest form of scary transport.

[Hedda]

If you read the Thai newspapers accounts of this tragedy, it's obvious that the Thais are very relieved that the pilot in charge of this flight was an Indonesian, which makes it a hell of a lot easier to blame it on pilot error, if and when it comes to that.

What's troublesome about much of the local press coverage is the almost blithe way in which the commentators seem to think that "bad weather" is an acceptable explanation for the crash, as if flying in the rainy season, when storms like this are routine happenings, is something that's viewed as risky behavior. If that's the case, maybe nobody should fly to Phuket this time of the year.

Finally, there's also the usual gruesome assurances from the TAT folks that tourism in Phuket will not sustain any serious long term damage from this accident, as if the loss of tourist dollars is more important to these folks than the tragedy of 90 happy travellers who will never go home again. I have little doubt that a lot of Thais see foreigners as cash cows and little more, but you would think they'd have the sense not to publicly make the same gruesome assessment after every tragedy.

[mauRICE]

Finally, there's also the usual gruesome assurances from the TAT folks that tourism in Phuket will not sustain any serious long term damage from this accident, as if the loss of tourist dollars is more important to these folks than the tragedy of 90 happy travellers who will never go home again. I have little doubt that a lot of Thais see foreigners as cash cows and little more, but you would think they'd have the sense not to publicly make the same gruesome assessment after every tragedy.

Sense? You're asking for the moon, Hedda dear. How about something closer to home, like their self-touted Buddhist piety, kindness and consideration? Where's the jai dii, babe?

Another case in point: hardly a Buddhist tear was shed in Bangkok when 90 southern Muslim boys were killed in Tak Bai by the military two years ago. In fact, the reaction was very much somnamna, ie they deserved it. But when Thaksin sold his shares to Temasek, they demanded for his head and took to the streets by the thousands, crying "R-E-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N." Do you see where their priorities lie now?