THAILAND: Plane crashes into unmanned control tower in Koh Samui, killing a pilot and at least nine foreign tourists hurt
Record ID:
382026
THAILAND: Plane crashes into unmanned control tower in Koh Samui, killing a pilot and at least nine foreign tourists hurt
- Title: THAILAND: Plane crashes into unmanned control tower in Koh Samui, killing a pilot and at least nine foreign tourists hurt
- Date: 4th August 2009
- Summary: KOH SAMUI, THAILAND (AUGUST 4, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RESCUE WORKERS AT CRASH SCENE VARIOUS OF INJURED BEING LIFTED OUT OF PLANE RESCUE WORKERS AT CRASH SITE NEXT TO CONTROL TOWER PEOPLE LEAVING PLANE INJURED IN AMBULANCE RESCUE WORKERS AT CRASH SITE WOUNDED PASSENGER ON A STRETCHER CRASH SITE BANGKOK, THAILAND (AUGUST 4, 2009) (REUTERS) BANGKOK AIRWAYS PRESIDENT, CAPTAIN PUTTIPONG PRASARTTONG-OSOTH ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM MEDIA FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BANGKOK AIRWAYS PRESIDENT, CAPTAIN PUTTIPONG PRASARTTONG-OSOTH, SAYING: "The plane slid to the left, the nose of the plane hit the unused control tower caused the plane damage. We rescued the passengers by gradually removing them." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BANGKOK AIRWAYS PRESIDENT, CAPTAIN PUTTIPONG PRASARTTONG-OSOTH SAYING: "We want to inform you that we have to wait for the investigation team to make clear what happened." EXTERIOR OF BANGKOK AIRWAYS HEAD QUARTERS
- Embargoed: 19th August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVAEKHG04HNQIUK8IHTI6220CKRM
- Story Text: A pilot died and at least nine foreign passengers were injured on Tuesday (August 4) when a commercial plane slid off a runway into a disused control tower on the Thai tourist island of Koh Samui, hospital and aviation officials said.
The Bangkok Airways plane flying from the southern Thai resort of Krabi left the runway while landing in heavy rain.
The Director-general of the Department of Aviation told Reuters that the pilot was killed.
The injured passengers were rescued and sent to hospitals close to the airport for treatment.
"The plane slid to the left, the nose of the plane hit the unused control tower caused the plane damage." Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways said at a news conference in Bangkok..
Hospital officials said nine foreign tourists -- from The Netherlands, Britain, France, Denmark and Switzerland -- were among those hurt but none were seriously injured.
The plane was carrying 68 passengers most of which were foreigners, and four crew members.
Television footage showed minor damage to the front of the ATR-72 twin turboprop plane.
However, the cause of plane clash was still under investigation.
"We have to wait for the investigation team to make clear what happened." said Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth.
Koh Samui, 700 km (435 miles) south of Bangkok, is Thailand's third-biggest island and one of the country's most popular holiday destinations. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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