Air force commander blames Egyptian soldier fiasco on ‘loophole’

By The Nation

 

 

The Royal Thai Air Force chief ACM Maanat Wongwat finally responded on Thursday (July 16) to queries on the case of an infected Egyptian soldier, who along with other Egyptian military personnel was allowed to stay in Thailand from July 8 to 11.

 

The air force chief said the group was in Thailand for a short break and refuelling as part of an international agreement.

 

“Opening the airspace for foreign aircraft is normal, as airspace is not within a country’s territory but is actually under international control. When Thai soldiers fly on missions to other countries, we also have to coordinate with them to open their skies so we can land for refuelling or a short break in line with international law,” the air chief marshal said.

 

He added other aircraft had also landed in Thailand to refuel, but no such problem had occurred.

 

Maanat added that the Covid-19 virus has caused problems across the world, but 180 countries are connected and may sometimes need to adjust conditions to protect their people.

 

“There’s a loophole that needs to be corrected. We can’t isolate ourselves from the 180 countries, but hopefully we can fix the leak once the virus outbreak is over or a vaccine is available,” he said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30391439?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-16

 

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...once the virus outbreak is over or a vaccine is available...

I can actually sympathise with him to a certain degree. There have after all been many cargo flights from everywhere continuously throughout the whole pandemic, not to mention military stops, so inevitable something would sneak in. And to give credit where it is due, they picked it up with this guy, rather than miss it and let him spread it everywhere. Serves as a warning though that when the country reopens, they need to be seriously on the ball.

I think the main point is the Egyptians knew they were supposed to stay in their hotel during their short stop over - they just didn't care about the rules and did whatever they wanted.

3 minutes ago, ukrules said:

I think the main point is the Egyptians knew they were supposed to stay in their hotel during their short stop over - they just didn't care about the rules and did whatever they wanted.

 

 

 

 

I agree - and the authorities response has been swift and appropriate.

What was the Egyptian plane picking up in China?

This was not just a courtesy visit. 

Would be interesting to see the cargo manifest. 

Thailand is trying to keep an air-tight seal on the country....  An impossible task, there failures must be expected. 

 

I just hope the ‘failures’ as the virus periodically slips through the gaps is handled intelligently without any outrageous knee-jerk reactions impacting everyone. 

 

A couple of Covid-19 cases slipping through the gaps places no significant risk on the generally 70 million population if intelligent track and trace measures are put into effect. 

 

 

He needs to resign, not make excuses. 

Quote

for refuelling or a short break in line with international law,

BS refueling takes a couple of hours tops not 5 days that was a vacation the loophole an intentional privilege otherwise for sure they don't stay so long.

10 hours ago, ukrules said:

I think the main point is the Egyptians knew they were supposed to stay in their hotel during their short stop over - they just didn't care about the rules and did whatever they wanted.

Why did they need to drive 40km to a hotel when there are closer ones?

1 hour ago, Sametboy2019 said:

Why did they need to drive 40km to a hotel when there are closer ones?

The closer hotels wouldn't pay a big enough backhander.

14 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I can actually sympathise with him to a certain degree. There have after all been many cargo flights from everywhere continuously throughout the whole pandemic, not to mention military stops, so inevitable something would sneak in. And to give credit where it is due, they picked it up with this guy, rather than miss it and let him spread it everywhere. Serves as a warning though that when the country reopens, they need to be seriously on the ball.

It certainly does not alter the facts that this Flight was changed in mid transit - by The Egyptians - to land at U-Tapao, instead of the agreed landing at Swampy. 

And also the Government had earlier have strongly denies even having any knowledge of this Flight.

Something is really wrong with this whole episode 

He is making it up as he goes along.

 

To allow any foreigners to enter Thailand without testing, into a hotel without telling the hotel staff or other guests and to wander out of the hotel and go shopping...

 

...and it's a loophole?

 

Fail.

Remember it is this same military government that will be handling the reopening of Thailand to tourists and managing the attendant Covid response. 

14 hours ago, ukrules said:

I think the main point is the Egyptians knew they were supposed to stay in their hotel during their short stop over - they just didn't care about the rules and did whatever they wanted.

Many in Thailand, foreigners and Thai alike, follow the same "I do what I want" path. Rules are simply suggestions to many. Helmets? Two on a scooter? Set belts? Drivers licensing? One way streets? Speed limits? Elections? There is a trend here.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Air force commander blames Egyptian soldier fiasco on ‘loophole’

Thailand has more "loopholes" than pot-holes.... ????

15 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What was the Egyptian plane picking up in China?

This was not just a courtesy visit. 

Would be interesting to see the cargo manifest. 

Wuhan virus.

1 hour ago, Cake Monster said:

It certainly does not alter the facts that this Flight was changed in mid transit - by The Egyptians - to land at U-Tapao, instead of the agreed landing at Swampy. 

And also the Government had earlier have strongly denies even having any knowledge of this Flight.

Something is really wrong with this whole episode 

It is not "this flight"... It was 2 aircrafts  '"A group of 31 Egyptian military personnel travelled on two C-130 air force planes – flights EGY1215 and EGY1216 – to Thailand"  Source =

 

And as I have said in a previous post :

A group of 31 Egyptian military personnel travelled on two C-130 air force planes – flights EGY1215 and EGY1216 – to Thailand. They first flew from Egpyt to the United Arab Emirates on July 6 and left the UAE for Pakistan on July 7. They arrived at Thailand's U-Tapao Airport at 7pm on July 8 and checked into Rayong’s DVaree hotel at 11pm that day.

On July 9, they headed out at 5.30am to U-Tapao Airport to fly to Chengdu, China, on an unspecified mission.

they were operations staff of military vehicles/planes that needed refuelling and a short stay in Thailand.

It all sounds very STRANGE and FISHY to me. What kind of refueling ? If they are referring to the 2 planes wouldn't need to stay in Thailand from July 8th to 11th, no? Guess these poor guys needed refueling also after a brief stop over in UAE and then Pakistan....?? Strange short stop overs? And why did they not stay in China rather than coming back to Thailand on the same day and fly back to Egypt from there? So what could this UNSPECIFIED MISSION quick mission into China could this possibly be...?? Very, very weird....!

"airspace is not within country's territory"

This from an air force Chief!?!

"Airspace is the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory." Google it.

One country can ban another from using its airspace. ditto

6 hours ago, Sametboy2019 said:

Why did they need to drive 40km to a hotel when there are closer ones?

Because there are more and better shops in Rayong for them to go shopping. 

Having been in the aviation business for 40 per years, I have never heard such a load of horse <deleted> coming from a supposed competent person as to say a country does not control it's own airspace.

 

Damn right it does, in accordance with ICAO annexes, Standards and Recommended Procedures.

 

If a country cannot control its own airspace, anarchy will prevail. We'll have foreigners flying camera drones above 60 meters, blacklisted airlines flying all over the place. Light aircraft flying over Royal Palaces, nuclear power stations, buzzing public gatherings. It'll be just like it is on the roads....

17 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What was the Egyptian plane picking up in China?

This was not just a courtesy visit. 

Would be interesting to see the cargo manifest. 

HUAWEI "spare parts" by any chance????

17 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What was the Egyptian plane picking up in China?

This was not just a courtesy visit. 

Would be interesting to see the cargo manifest. 

Chow Mein and a side of Prawn Crackers to go?

Loophole my ass they were given special privileges to bypass Quarantine unbelievable excuses and attempted whitewash.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspace

18 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said:

Having been in the aviation business for 40 per years, I have never heard such a load of horse <deleted> coming from a supposed competent person as to say a country does not control it's own airspace.

 

Damn right it does, in accordance with ICAO annexes, Standards and Recommended Procedures.

 

If a country cannot control its own airspace, anarchy will prevail. We'll have foreigners flying camera drones above 60 meters, blacklisted airlines flying all over the place. Light aircraft flying over Royal Palaces, nuclear power stations, buzzing public gatherings. It'll be just like it is on the roads....

You forgot the CIA rendition flights.

1 hour ago, Lemonltr said:

Because there are more and better shops in Rayong for them to go shopping. 

He's not related to Dominic Cummins is he? ????

Did he actually say exactly what the "loophole" is in all this?

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

“There’s a loophole that needs to be corrected

What is called insubordination of an Egyptian military officer, thus abusing the hospitality of Thailand.