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| Southeast Asia |
| Jet crash in Thailand's Phuket kills 74 |
| 2007-09-16 |
| I was surprised to find this belonged in 'Non-WoT' but it seems to (unless it's Blue-on-Blue misfire by the Halliburton weather machine.) It sounds an awfully lot like the crash not long ago in Indonesia though, including the pre-landing 'bang', so I have this nagging suspicion about sabotage. BANGKOK, Thailand - A passenger plane filled with foreign tourists crashed Sunday as it tried to land in heavy rain on the island of Phuket, splitting in two and bursting into flames, officials said. At least 74 people were killed. The budget One-Two-Go Airlines domestic flight OG269 was carrying 123 passengers and seven crew members to Phuket — one of Thailand's leading tourist destinations — from the capital, Bangkok. Survivors described their escape from the airplane's windows as fires and smoke consumed the plane. "I saw passengers engulfed in fire as I stepped over them on way out of the plane," Parinwit Chusaeng, a survivor who suffered minor burns, told the Nation television channel. "I was afraid that the airplane was going to explode so I ran away." An Irish survivor, identified as Sean, told of being badly burned on his arms, legs and back as he escaped the flames. Speaking to TITV from a local hospital, he said he knew something was wrong even before the flight landed. "You could tell when it was landing it was in trouble," he said. "It was making a noise, this bang." Chaisak Angsuwan, director general of the Air Transport Authority of Thailand, said weather played a part in the crash. "The visibility was poor as the pilot attempted to land. He decided to make a go-around but the plane lost balance and crashed," he said. "It was torn into two parts." |
| Posted by:Glenmore |
| #4 I'm in Phuket at the moment. There was heavy rain and gusty winds at the time of the crash. The tropics don't get strong winds like temperate regions do. The wind gusts were mild by N American or European standards but unusual here. Hard to see how the winds caused a problem, unless the pilot was inexperienced. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2007-09-16 23:33 |
| #3 inshallah? |
| Posted by: jds 2007-09-16 20:53 |
| #2 thanks for the report, LR. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-09-16 12:51 |
| #1 Local authorities indicate 87 dead (but some reports of just 80 bodies) - the number 74 evidently referred to the total number of passengers that were of Thai nationality. At this point, all indications are that this accident is not terrorist-related. The accident happened after wheels touched down. Condolences to all who lost loved ones, and may those who perished rest in peace. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2007-09-16 11:45 |