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StrayGypsy
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Damm! Sorry! it happened.
Pray for the survivors recovery and the 90 or so lost souls.
Stories and pics all over the net now.
Weather's bad! looks like pilot pushed it hard to land sudden after 1st go around, maybe distracted how much runway left and incoming speeds vs gettin corrections from the tower; more like 1 2 U Go!
Pilots shoulda assesed better and made more go rounds till wind shear risk subsided.
Damm fires and crowded exits, screwed evacuations!
Hopefully, low budget plane's corporation insurance will pay dearly to the victims!
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:16 am on Sep. 17, 2007
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China Sailor
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Which now brings the question of how the pilots are trained and what type of (professional) culture they come from.
It seems to me that Indonesia has had several accidents of this type over the last several years; so many that all Indonesian registered airlines have been banned from operating in the EU.
I have also read that the majority of the pilots for all of the various Indonesian airlines are former Indonesian Air Force pilots.
Now if the initial reports are true and the Capitan commanding this aircraft was a former Indonesian Air Force pilot what does that say for the training that these pilots get from the Indonesian Military and the (professional) culture that they spend their careers flying under...
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:24 am on Sep. 17, 2007
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Jojje
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Quote: from S M E G M A on 6:51 am on Sep. 17, 2007
Yes ok lets be particular with words ---- fire causes flames and of course your mentioned fumes, which I made into one sentence. And it is of course correct - the fumes make you pass out very fast. Again - IF other materials (yes, available!) were used in aircraft interiors, flames and FUMES would be if not totally eliminated - at least delayed.
The books you mention I know are indeed interesting. Of course aircrafts going straight into the ground or sea are not part of the high survival quota. But facts still exists in numerous investigations - a high percentage of passangers survive accidents - just to tragically perish from the above. I dont have the link now - but there is a report covering accidents as far back as the 40´s or 50´s where the figures surely are as stated.
Think about it: a vast majority of accidents are during take off or landing. During straight flight on cruise alt. it is very very rare anything happens. I have often had the question which I consider to be the most "dangerous" part myself. And I am still not sure! Personally I feel a lot more concentrated when pushing the throttles forward for takeoff! But a landing in real shit weather can be stressful as hell. I had clear ice on wings once many years ago and it was a total scare as going through transition level for approach.
Maybe this is not for everyone - I just tell you what I always do: I check the weather on internet before I board an airliner to go somewhere! Up to anyone of course. But I have sometimes actually changed flight because of this info. Once in USA when we rented a small aircraft and I asked to see the weather en route. The young captain had actuall planned to fly us straight into severe CB´s and rain and thunder! When I really pushed him about his view on this he started to mumble that "hopefully he could go around or under it".... A totally idiotic flight plan and we walked out and took the car!
Someone else here asked what other airlines I do not board? Well - many! Mainly those without IATA status. African airlines, Cuba airline (the MOST dangerous one in the world!) Phuket Airline (I think that was the name. If they are still flying? They had a fleet of really sorry looking old 747 standing on Don Muang).
Info about airlines to avoid available on dear web! Always go with the big and famous ones - a safe tip. Small new budget airlines I personally feel very sceptical about. Have heard horror stories from still active PIC friend of mine who is more updated.
Again - our thoughts go out to friends and families of those poor people who were just going for a nice time in Phuket. Start an hr long flight and sitting there thinking of what to do same evening - just to never be around again..... terrible!
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 5:37 am on Sep. 17, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Quote: from China Sailor on 7:18 pm on Sep. 17, 2007
Now if the initial reports are true and the Capitan commanding this aircraft was a former Indonesian Air Force pilot what does that say for the training that these pilots get from the Indonesian Military and the (professional) culture that they spend their careers flying under...
Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 17 september 2007 :-
Indonesian pilot had wide experience
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The pilot of the doomed One-Two-Go airline which crashed at Phuket International airport on Sunday afternoon has been identified as Areef Mulyadi from Indonesia.
The 56-year-old was said to have been a pilot with two Indonesian airlines – Sempati and Star Airlines - prior to moving to Thai budget airliner One-Two-Go two years ago.
Authorities say the pilot’s family members are on their way to Phuket to identify his body. They were forced to travel from Bangkok to Krabi province before traveling on land to Phuket due to the closure of Phuket Airport following yesterday’s tragic accident.
The latest death toll from the crash stood at 90.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 7:36 am on Sep. 17, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 18 september 2007 :-
Wind shear is top crash suspect
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According to a transcript of the conversation between the control tower and the plane, ground officials informed the Indonesian pilot, Arief Mulyadi, about wind shear at the airport, a senior official has said.
The director general of the Air Transport Department, Chaisak Ungsuwan, said in a local TV intereview that the pilot decided to land anyway.
"The last word the pilot said was 'landing'," said Mr Chaisak, who was one of the first senior officials to arrive at the crash scene on Sunday afternoon.
Wind shear - a sudden change in either wind speed or direction in an aircraft's flight path - can destabilise a plane, as pilots compensate for the condition, which can then suddenly disappear and put the aircraft out of control.
Phuket International Airport has no instruments which can pinpoint windshear, unlike many advanced airports including Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang in Bangkok, where the flight originated.
The head of the airline involved in the crash agreed that wind shear is a prime suspect as the cause of the crash of One-Two-Go Airlines flight OG268.
"It is possible that the plane crash was caused by wind shear," Kajit Habnanonda, president of Orient-Thai Airlines, which owns One-Two-Go.
In addition, heavy rains could have contributed to the plane skidding off the runway.
Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen cautioned that it was still to early to know what caused the crash of the McDonnell Douglas MD-82.
"The officials have found the black boxes and will send them for analysis to the United States," he said. "Hopefully, we will learn in a few weeks the cause of the accident."
Actually, it is more likely to take several months to a year.
According to an AP report, aviation expert Tom Ballantyne, chief correspondent for Orient Aviation magazine, said the pilot had reportedly asked to abandon the landing and circle around again because he could not see the runway, but the plane was already too low.
"It was hit by wind shear or strong winds and he didn't have time to react," he said.
Ballantyne added that the bigger question was whether the airport should have been allowing planes to land in such weather.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:34 pm on Sep. 17, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 18 September 2007 :-
Probe looks at human error - Role of air traffic controllers and I'nesian pilot under scrutiny
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The role of the Indonesian pilot and air traffic controllers during the heavy rainstorm prior to the crash of flight OG 269 at Phuket Airport on Sunday came under intense scrutiny yesterday as authorities began their investigation into the tragedy that claimed 89 lives.
Initial assessments pointed to a possible misjudgement by the pilot as a major cause of the crash.
However the real cause would be determined by the two black box flight recorders which will be sent to the United States for analysis in the nest two days.
Chaisak Angsuwan, director-general of the Air Transport Department, said the voice and flight data recorders of the One-Two-Go OG 269 flight were dug out of the charred debris of the plane yesterday. He expected the results of the analysis from the US would be available within next week.
The Transportation Ministry yesterday also set up an investigative team to find the cause of the accident which claimed 89 lives, including 55 foreigners.
"The objective is to seek the real reason and to prevent it happening again," said Chaisak, who is also deputy chairman of the investigative team.
The OG 269 was carrying 123 passengers and seven crew, including the pilot and co-pilot, from Bangkok to Phuket when it slammed into the runway in driving wind and rain. The plane then caught fire and engulfed most of the passengers in flames.
A source at the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai), which oversees air traffic control in the country, said the traffic controllers at Phuket International Airport had informed the pilot about the bad weather conditions.
"The final decision on whether to land was made by the pilot, we only gave him the conditions," said the source who asked not to be named.
According to the source, besides the heavy rain and bad visibility, there was 30-knot crosswind at the airport at the very moment the plane attempted to landing.
"It was a very strong crosswind. The pilot should not have landed," said the source.
The bad weather conditions in Phuket on Sunday were confirmed by the Meteorological Department. Chamnong Jitphakdee, director of southern meteorological office, who said that Phuket was affected by severe storms around 3pm and he had to update the traffic control tower every 30 minutes.
Chaisak, who is also chairman of Aerothai, reckoned the pilot of OG 269 might have thought the landing would not a problem as another aircraft, also belonging to Orient Thai airlines, had landed just minutes before.
Chaisak said he was informed the OG 269 pilot had tried to land twice.
On the second attempt, he said, the pilot again informed air traffic control that he would go round again.
"It happened very fast. Just minutes after he talked to the traffic controllers, the plane crashed as it lost balance and the fuselage tilted to the right," said Chaisak, adding that the landing gear "was not down" when it crashed heavily on the runway.
However, some passengers said the landing gear was lowered to prepare for landing because the plane had skidded off the runway. Some witnesses said they heard a series of explosions before the plane crashed.
Chaisak admitted that he heard a conversation between the pilot and air traffic controllers which was recorded by air traffic controllers. However, he hadn't released the recording, saying there was "nothing special" about the conversation.
"It was just normal conversation that every pilot has when talking to air traffic controllers before landing," he said.
Udom Tantiprasongchai, founder and chairman of Orient Thai Airlines, which own One-Two-Go, said it was too early to point the finger at the pilot.
"He is chief of the One-Two-Go's pilots with long term experience flying passenger planes," he said referred to the Indonesian pilot "Ariff", as many Indonesians use only one name.
Udom said all parties should wait for the results of the black boxes.
"I've heard someone questions about why we use an Indonesian pilot. I beg you all not to focus on the nationality of any pilot. The most important thing is their skill and experience," he said.
Ariff, an experienced passenger pilot with several Indonesian airlines, had reportedly worked with One-Two-go for almost three years and had flown to Phuket many times, said Udom.
A source from Aerothai said all air traffic controllers stationed at Phuket airport when the crash took place have been temporarily moved to ground staff positions.
"From the control tower they saw everything and broke into tears the moment the plane crashed," said the source.
Kanit Phromsatit, a pilot with THAI Airways, said the judgement of a pilot when landing in bad weather condition was crucial and admitted that Phuket Airport was a difficult place to land being encircled by mountains.
"The plane had been is use for 12 years. Normally, any plane should have at least 15 years good service," he said.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:48 pm on Sep. 17, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 18 September 2007 :-
Survivors say crew gave no warning - One man credits quick reactions for survival, another vows never to fly
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Revealing the critical moments before a One-Two-Go airliner crashed into the runway of Phuket International Airport on Sunday, a Phang Nga native said he and his girlfriend survived only because he thought quickly about what to do.
Chatree Suksawas, 26, who was taking his Canadian girlfriend, Mildred Anne Furlong, to visit his family in Phang Nga, was the first passenger to kick the emergency door open moments after the crash.
The couple was among 41 survivors of Flight OG269 from Bangkok. Eighty-nine others died, most of them foreign tourists from the United States, Europe, Australia, Iran and Israel.
From his hospital bed, Chatree said there was no warning from the pilot. It appeared that the pilot wanted the passengers to believe that the situation was under control, he said.
However, Chatree sensed something was wrong as the plane came in to land during a heavy storm. He felt the plane hit the ground hard, causing it to bounce violently before sliding to the left and crashing into an earthen wall that tore off the left wing.
"I saw flames from the front of the plane and me and my girlfriend took off our seatbelts. We ran to the mid-plane emergency door, which I kicked open, and we jumped out. Looking back, we saw the plane was on fire. Although we narrowly escaped, we could imagine how much grief and loss there would be afterwards," Chatree said.
Chatree and Furlong, 23, suffered slight injuries. He said that after they were admitted to Krungthep Phuket Hospital, One-Two-Go airline officials informed them the airline would cover their medical bills.
"It will take us a while before we board a plane again," he added.
As Chatree's parents rushed to Phuket yesterday, Chatree said he was grateful to be able to perform the Thai tradition of bowing down and touching their feet in a sign of respect. "I felt like I almost died; I didn't know if I would ever be able to greet them like this again," he said.
Furlong said the journey from Bangkok went well until the landing, when it felt like the plane was diving and the pilot was trying to pull up. Surviving was unbelievable because everything happened so fast, she said.
Other survivors said the plane landed hard and went out of control. "You could tell we were in trouble because it landed then came up [off the tarmac] a second time," said John Gerard O'Donnell from Ireland, who was speaking from his hospital bed.
"I came out on the wing of the plane... the exit door was crushed and I had to squeeze through. I saw my friend outside. He had just got out before me. Next thing, the plane really caught fire and I got badly burned on my face, legs and arms," he said.
Marcel Squinobal, a 33-year-old restaurant owner from Vorarl-berg Bregenz in Austria, said that as the plane landed it bounced and swerved dramatically to both sides. He said there were no warnings or instructions from the cockpit or crew on how to evacuate.
"I don't understand why we didn't re-route to Krabi. We could have taken a bus to Phuket," said Squinobal.
The restaurateur and seasoned traveller said it was his first time in Thailand. He said he would never be back, and that once he flies home, he would never set foot on a plane again. "I love flying, but now, no more," he said.
Both pilots and three of the five cabin crew were killed in the crash, according to the airline.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:55 pm on Sep. 17, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 18 September 2007 :-
Impact of crash 'will be short' - Tourism in Phuket tipped to recover
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Sunday's One-Two-Go air crash in Phuket will affect tourism to the resort island for only one or two months, Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said yesterday.
Tourism should recover by end of the year, which is the peak season, he said.
"The incident will surely hit the tourism industry, but for a short time. I hope it will rebound before the coming high season," Suvit said.
Phuket, which last year welcomed over five million tourists, generates one-third of the country's tourism income.
Suvit urged authorities to conclude investigations into the mishap as soon as possible in order to restore confidence in air travel to Phuket and nearby attractions.
The minister went to the island with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Phornsiri Manoharn yesterday to monitor the situation, and console relatives of the victims and offer assistance.
Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, also believes the impact will be only short-term.
"Tourists all over the world understand that it was an accident. So there should no doubt over the issue. But if this is a human error, the damage could be greater," said Apichart.
He urged the airline and state agencies to make full disclosure about the crash, which killed 89 people, mostly foreign tourists.
The tourism ministry has ordered all TAT offices overseas to provide correct information and assistance to victims' families and travel agents.
Charoen Wangananond, president of the Association of Domestic Travel, said the overall number of air travellers could decrease because many people would put off their trips, especially to Phuket. However, he too believed that tourists would return to the island.
Imtiaz Muqbil, executive director of Bangkok-based Travel Impact Newswire, told online travel magazine eTurbonews that he did not think the accident would dent air travel to Phuket.
"Air disasters can happen to anyone, any time. This incident will not deter tourists from flying into the island," he said.
"This is purely bad luck, with the airplane running into severe weather and getting hit with a down draft. [One-Two-Go CEO] Udom [Tantiprasongchai] is one of those guys who have the least safety and security concerns due to the company's excellent history."
Muqbil believed that whatever the findings of the investigation into the crash, one air disaster would not affect tourism to Phuket, which has now recovered from the deadly tsunami that killed thousands of locals and tourists in December 2004.
Thailand's extensive air links, both domestic and regional, have ensured a plentiful if not always adequate supply of seats, Muqbil stressed.
"The country has gradually dismantled the reciprocity-based aviation policy to give more leeway to international carriers while also seeking more international access for national airline Thai Airways International. Charters were also given liberal permission to fly in during the high-density winter seasons, especially on routes not flown by the scheduled airlines," he said.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 7:00 pm on Sep. 17, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 18 September 2007 :-
Backlash for budget carriers
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Budget airlines could suffer a 20 per cent drop in the number of passengers over the next few months as travellers become more concerned about aviation safety following the tragic crash of a One-Two-Go plane in Phuket on Sunday.
"Passengers on low-cost airlines will worry about safety and security measures after the crash," a source in the aviation industry said, adding that these airlines were now suffering from a bad image.
Though all airlines are insured, travellers need full assurances about safety, the source said. He urged airlines and authorities to provide more information, particularly about the condition of aircraft, service standards and pilot qualifications. "I think people need to hear about the standards of low-cost airlines, from agencies and operators, before they start boarding their planes again," the source said.
The crash pushed down the share price of Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia as analysts said travellers were likely to shun
flying due to safety concerns. At close of trading yesterday, AirAsia fell 0.05 ringgit, or 2.6 per cent, to 1.85 ringgit (53 US cents) while the Kuala Lumpur composite index was down 0.9 per cent.
OSK Investment Bank said the Phuket crash would affect low-cost carriers, particularly after a similar crash in Indonesia in January involving budget airline Adam Air.
AirAsia has a 49-per-cent stake in Thai AirAsia, one of three budget airlines operating in Thailand.
"Although Thai AirAsia has not suffered a significant incident of this nature, we believe it will be affected as well, and it will reduce its fares in an effort to sustain its load factor," OSK said.
MIMB Investment Bank head of research Pong Teng Siew said that in the short term passengers would be suspicious of budget airlines, although this was unlikely to last.
"People might get a little worried now after the One-Two-Go crash," he said.
"Generally, AirAsia has a good reputation and no record of problems, so there will be little impact on the company in the longer term, " he said.
Srihaphan Chumsai, deputy CEO of low-cost carrier Nok Air, agreed. He said the incident would affect the tourism industry only in the short term.
"People might stop travelling on low-cost carriers, but not for a long time," said Srihaphan.
He added that the One Two Go accident could have happened on any airline, not just a low-cost carrier.
Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, declined to comment on the incident and its impact until further information was available from crash investigators.
Thai AirAsia and Nok Air are expected to gain from the incident because tourists will shift to these carriers if they cannot afford the more expensive fares quoted by higher-quality airlines like Thai Airways International.
Andrew J Wood, Asian Area director of development for the Skal International Council - an organisation that brings together all sectors of the travel and tourism industry - said the incident was shocking but added that flying was still the safest mode of transport anywhere in the world.
Phuket would suffer some short-term impact but the effect would be minimal, he said. Most travellers understood that the chances of the same type of accident happening again were minimal.
"Our estimate is that business will be off 3 per cent in arrival numbers as a result, but it should quickly recover as services normalise and the airport gets back on its feet," he said.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:04 pm on Sep. 17, 2007
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