1 year in commemoration of One-Two-Go air crash at Phuket

Special Report for Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + FM90.5 Radio Thailand at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, Tuesday 16 September 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ Send comments to AndamanNews@yahoo.com

Today one year ago, the One-Two-Go Airlines Flight OG 269 from Bangkok crashed and burst into flames on landing at Phuket International Airport at around 3.40pm. The pilot had decided to land in extremely severe & windy weather. During the time, factors like wind shear were widely spoken of as the wind was extremely bad during the landing time. This was the first major accident at the airport in its history.
The plane carried 130 passengers and crew and the accident killed 90 people of many nationalities, including Australians, Iranians, Israelis, British, Americans and Thais.

An official investigation plus inquiries by victims families had been going on for almost a year before the Thai Department of Civil Aviation revealed the investigation result for the cause of the crash as bad weather & pilot error.

For the peace of mind in residents and staff, a Buddhist symbol statue is now established near the airport not long after the accident.

Chavalert and Chavit Jit-jam-nong, a father and son, were among survivors, but they lost their loved one, a wife and a mother.
He said Now my father looks after me. Im better. I dont want to remember that last moment. I meant to turn to wake mum up, but there was no time. It was so swift. It still haunts me, in only one image.
Chavit told us that safety belts are very important. He admitted that he usually put on a loose belt, but that fatal day he did it right, so that prevented him from getting any head injuries.

Andaman News visited the Phuket Airport Control Tower to observe their operation. The director of Air Traffic Control insisted that their operation meets high international standards.
He said they use the same universal air traffic standards and that they are members of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Before any flight takes off or lands, pilots will follow flying manuals and many positions are involved like ground control, local control, area control centre and pilot (who makes the final decision).
The airport General Manager Wicha Nernlop also assured us of the airports highest safety procedures. As last years accident occurred during severe weather, the manager insists that wind shear machines are in use, with 6 wind shear positioned at the various corners of the airport. He however stressed that the decision to land or not to land rests on a pilot:

The airport manager said that it was such a terrible accident which no one wanted to happen. After it occurred, it was the swift rescue to save lives and recovery that they focused on and they did quite well with all units and agencies concerned. At least there were some survivors who they managed to rescue and took great care of. The airport was cleared and reopened within 48 hours.

As a survivor, Chavit stills thinks the terrible weather was the main cause, with of course the pilots fatal decision, and that his own & his fathers survival was due to consciousness and not panicking.




Today a private memorial service will be held in honor of the victims at 3 6 pm. The ceremony will be held on the Nai Yang beach beside the runway apron at the southwest end of Phuket Airport, near a tsunami memorial as well. There will be a Buddhist service, placement of a spirit house and reading of passenger names at 3.40pm. Members and friends of families victims are invited to join there. For those that cannot make it there, you can take one minute of silence to remember the victims of Phukets air crash on 16 September 2007.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Phuket
• Thailand
• airport
• aircrash

[yaritza70224]

that is so sad, i feel so bad 4 thoes people that died

[adswu2008]

The Thai guy that owned this carrier is a murderer nothing less he tried to cover it up and is still operating as Thai Orient Airlines trying to hide behind his mask... He is still wealthy and made money from insurence from this murder . Dont fly on ANY thai airline

[adswu2008]

@adswu2008 Did I say 747-400 or just 747 ? When you get in to an Airplane there is a plate on the door shut it carries the made date ..So eat shit know all, I have been on this aircraft with Thai Airlines within the last year the plate said 1976 . They might say all 747 are 400s but dont forget Thai Airlines and Thai International Airlines are the same company but different divisions and they fool everyone as they run the Domestic flights as Thai Airlines that is only regulated by THAILAND !!!

[Pvjinflight]

@adswu2008 First Boeing 747-400 was made in 1989, and all Thai Airways 747´s are 747-400 model, so your information is false. Also on every single airliner of Thai Airways there is register on tail part of the plane, its not required only inside Europe but everywhere.

That sounds more like Orient Thai. They have at least used very old 747-100´s and 200s with all kinds of problems ive heard.

[adswu2008]

@Pvjinflight The Planes they fly to Europe may pass tests but Thai Airlines fly a 747 from bangkok to Phuket twice a day , it is not cetified to fly overseas and is made in 1976 it has no ID plates and no end of tray catches are broken so the trays dont store I have even sat on a seat with no seat belt !!! The plane is inefficient and no other airline would fly it on this route ... BUT Thai Airways does .. Now i wont fly Thai either but each day 300 tourists do.. Thai Intergrity !

[Pvjinflight]

@adswu2008 Yeah but in worst countries all or most airlines are banned from flying to EU, which is not case with Thailand, so I doubt that aviation safety can be all bad there. Especially for Thai Airways safety is really important also economically. Any crash would probably make lots of people choose some european airline instead of Thai.

[adswu2008]

@Pvjinflight I live in Thailand I have been here 8 years , if the Airline is Thai it is not safe END OF STORY , The country is riddled with corruption from the top to the bottom and NO ONE does the job they are meant to, as they shave costs ON EVERYTHING .

Thia people cant work out 2 + 2 without the aid of a calculator and the doctors just petitioned their goverment to stop a law being passed that makes them responsible for mistakes THEY make . You feel safe with these facts.?

[Pvjinflight]

@adswu2008 Rubbish, Orient Thai alias One Two Go sucks and is not very safe, but other thai airlines are ok. Actually Thai Airways is one of the best and safest airlines in whole world. Just because of one low cost carrier that did things wrong we should not avoid all thai airlines, just ones that do things wrong.

[MrCriticOfAll]

@lorraine1246 I am truley sorry for your loss.It must be tragic to lose someone in such a way.But people need to be aware of dodgey carriers such as these and the company needs to be shamed and humiliated.It is sad that anyone should die in a plane crash in this day and age.Please dont look at this clip as a bad thing to do.But look at it as a celebration of the life your sister had.Again i am sorry for your loss.

[CYTL1960]

Think twice before the decision of flying cheap airlines

[chloeandrews1]

they should not be flying planes! bethan jones, a sister i never had died in this plane crash? and they are still flying planes? really? do you want more people killed by this pathetic air company? investigation? MYARSE. thailand hasnt got no guts to come over here and argue it was not their fault. they have no dignity what so ever!