I've just seen a quick news flash saying that a Thai airways domestic flight has crashed into the control tower on Samui.
Anyone have any more details?
Samui air crash
Here, unfortunately:
Fatal Bangkok Airways crash on Samui
Published: 4/08/2009 at 03:16 PM
A Bangkok Airways plane is reported to have crashed at Samui aiport. Ten people are reported to have died.
Flight PG 26 crashed on arriving from Krabi province, according to TV reports.
The plane swerved off the runway and crashed into a building near the control tower.
Initial reports said 10 people were believed killed and at least 41 injured.
Department of Civil Aviation director-general Kannika Dechatiwongse said 68 passengers and four cabin crew boarded the plane but there was no cnfirmationof death.
BKK Post 4/8/09.
Fatal Bangkok Airways crash on Samui
Published: 4/08/2009 at 03:16 PM
A Bangkok Airways plane is reported to have crashed at Samui aiport. Ten people are reported to have died.
Flight PG 26 crashed on arriving from Krabi province, according to TV reports.
The plane swerved off the runway and crashed into a building near the control tower.
Initial reports said 10 people were believed killed and at least 41 injured.
Department of Civil Aviation director-general Kannika Dechatiwongse said 68 passengers and four cabin crew boarded the plane but there was no cnfirmationof death.
BKK Post 4/8/09.
This fom the BBC:
Several passengers have been injured after a Bangkok Airways flight skidded off the runway on a popular Thai tourist island, reports said.
One report said the domestic airliner with about 70 people on board hit the airport control tower on Koh Samui.
A company official told AFP that all passengers were evacuated, but said an unspecified number were wounded.
The plane was arriving from the western Thai town of Krabi, which is also a popular tourist destination.
No reports of deaths from them so far
Several passengers have been injured after a Bangkok Airways flight skidded off the runway on a popular Thai tourist island, reports said.
One report said the domestic airliner with about 70 people on board hit the airport control tower on Koh Samui.
A company official told AFP that all passengers were evacuated, but said an unspecified number were wounded.
The plane was arriving from the western Thai town of Krabi, which is also a popular tourist destination.
No reports of deaths from them so far
Tourists trapped in Ko Samui air crash
August 4 2009
Source - The Timesonline
A flight to Ko Samui, one of Thailand’s most popular holiday islands, crash-landed today, killing a pilot and trapping many of the 68 passengers.
Several hours after the crash, rescue workers were struggling to free some of the passengers, likely to be holiday-makers heading for the isle’s idyllic white sandy beaches. It is unknown if any British nationals were on board.
The plane skidded off the runway and crashed into a disused air traffic control tower after landing in rainy conditions this morning. The tower is now part of a fire fighting station.
Major Colonel Sayan Sartsri of the Thai police said: “The heavy damage was at the front of the plane where the pilot was. It looks like he suffered from the impact,” he said. “We still have a few people stuck in the middle of the plane, waiting to be evacuated.”
Kanikka Kemawutanond, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation, said the ATR72 twin-turboprop had 72 people on board including two pilots and two crew members. The tourist flight came from Krabi, another popular resort area in southern Thailand.
Ms Kanikka said the Samui airport runway was closed after the accident and at least one Thai Airways flight was cancelled.
“The plane was damaged,” said a Samui airport official. “The weather was bad and it was raining when the plane skidded off.”
Ko Samui is located 300 miles (480 km) south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand.
This seems to be the latest detailed story, so far. I also read on another news report that at least 1 person is dead and that total may well, unfortunately, rise.
August 4 2009
Source - The Timesonline
A flight to Ko Samui, one of Thailand’s most popular holiday islands, crash-landed today, killing a pilot and trapping many of the 68 passengers.
Several hours after the crash, rescue workers were struggling to free some of the passengers, likely to be holiday-makers heading for the isle’s idyllic white sandy beaches. It is unknown if any British nationals were on board.
The plane skidded off the runway and crashed into a disused air traffic control tower after landing in rainy conditions this morning. The tower is now part of a fire fighting station.
Major Colonel Sayan Sartsri of the Thai police said: “The heavy damage was at the front of the plane where the pilot was. It looks like he suffered from the impact,” he said. “We still have a few people stuck in the middle of the plane, waiting to be evacuated.”
Kanikka Kemawutanond, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation, said the ATR72 twin-turboprop had 72 people on board including two pilots and two crew members. The tourist flight came from Krabi, another popular resort area in southern Thailand.
Ms Kanikka said the Samui airport runway was closed after the accident and at least one Thai Airways flight was cancelled.
“The plane was damaged,” said a Samui airport official. “The weather was bad and it was raining when the plane skidded off.”
Ko Samui is located 300 miles (480 km) south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand.
This seems to be the latest detailed story, so far. I also read on another news report that at least 1 person is dead and that total may well, unfortunately, rise.
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thaiorchid
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Having landed on Samui a few times, as have many of you I should guess. You know the parking area for the planes are half way down the landingstrip on the left. On quite a few occasions just after landing the pilot hits the brakes very hard so he can go left without using the full length of the landingstrip, so he does not have to go another 500 meters and turn the plane around before parking it. Wet tarmac like today, hit the brakes hard and the plane goes left allright, maybe a little earlier than intended ? Just guessing, but sadly enough I am not surprised. The pilot RIP if Thai are not likely to be blamed, but if the poor bugger should be from lets say Indonesia, it is a completely different matter. The Phuket-crash last year still fresh in mind.
thaiorchid
thaiorchid
Thaiochild, The parking area for the planes is only on the left if you are landing from the North. This plane was coming in from the opposite direction so the parking would be on the right. I was hiding from the rain near the airport when it came in to land. It was raining very heavy at the time but the pilot put the plane own perfectly. It was only after travelling around half way down the runway when it just veered off to the left coming to a halt buried in the old control tower. It was not going that fast either.
I have read with amusement some of the stories in the UK papers of the plane bouncing along the runway and people running down the runway after escaping from the plane. All utter rubbish. The emergency crews were there very quickly and after talking to one of the firemen the day after there was a small fire near the cockpit that was quickly extinguished. I was mildly surprised at the professionalism of the crews. I have also read stories of the control tower telling the pilot to abort the landing. Again rubbish. I was talking to a British expat who used to fly and he lives near the airport and was listening to the chat between the tower and the pilot. The wind direction was 300 degrees and the wind was 17kph gusting to 20. Well within the capability of the landing aircraft, evidently. There was nothing between the tower and pilot before the impact. He also believes the pilot will get the blame as he cannot defend himself.
Samui is a small but busy airport but has an excellent safety record. Lets hope this does not put people off from flying into Samui.
You have to give it to the Thais though. They are never one to miss an opportunity. Within 10 minutes there was a large crowd of onlookers and within 15 minutes there was every type of mobile food vendor there as well doing a brisk trade.
I have read with amusement some of the stories in the UK papers of the plane bouncing along the runway and people running down the runway after escaping from the plane. All utter rubbish. The emergency crews were there very quickly and after talking to one of the firemen the day after there was a small fire near the cockpit that was quickly extinguished. I was mildly surprised at the professionalism of the crews. I have also read stories of the control tower telling the pilot to abort the landing. Again rubbish. I was talking to a British expat who used to fly and he lives near the airport and was listening to the chat between the tower and the pilot. The wind direction was 300 degrees and the wind was 17kph gusting to 20. Well within the capability of the landing aircraft, evidently. There was nothing between the tower and pilot before the impact. He also believes the pilot will get the blame as he cannot defend himself.
Samui is a small but busy airport but has an excellent safety record. Lets hope this does not put people off from flying into Samui.
You have to give it to the Thais though. They are never one to miss an opportunity. Within 10 minutes there was a large crowd of onlookers and within 15 minutes there was every type of mobile food vendor there as well doing a brisk trade.
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