One confirmed dead in Bangkok Airways crash in Samui

A Bangkok Airways plane skidded off the runway and crashed at Samui airport on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in at least one confirmed death and seven injured. Flight PG 266 crashed in severe weather on arriving at the resort island in Surat Thani about 2pm from Krabi province. Witnesses said the ATR72 twin turbo-prop  landed in a strong crosswind, veered off the runway and crashed into an old control tower now being used as a parking area for fire engines.

Police investigator Sayan Sadsri said the pilot, Chartchai Pansuwan, was killed and seven people hurt. All of the injured were taken to Bangkok Samui hospital, Pol Maj Sayan said. Civil Aviation Department Deputy Director-General Kannika Khemawuthanont said 68 passengers and four cabin crew boarded the plane in Krabi. After the crash, Thai Airways International cancelled two flights to Samui, TG 287 and TG 288, leaving more than 200 passengers stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Samui airport was closed after the accident.

For information on the names of passengers on board the flight and their conditions, call Bangkok Airways Hotline at 02-265-8777 or 1771.

SOURCE :    Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 4/08/2009 at 03:16 PM