Chiang Rai airport still closed: Continuing problems in removing Nok Air plane that skidded off runway

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported on the continuing problems of a Nok Air flight that skidded off the runway in heavy rain at Mae Fah Luang airport, Chiang Rai. 

 

The airport remains closed and may not even reopen tomorrow when it was planned to do so.

 

The front of the plane sank into the turf so airbags were used to raise the nose cone section and a trailer was used to haul the aircraft out by the Aircraft Recovery Team.

 

However, this only made the back wheels sink around half way up into the rain softened ground. 

 

They succeeded in moving the aircraft just one meter. 

 

This despite a metal plate being inserted to effect the removal of the aircraft.

 

So the team decided to get a concrete plate from Khon Kaen meaning yet further delays in the operation.

 

Meanwhile the media reported that it would be two weeks before an investigation concludes as to why it was 90 minutes before the plane was evacuated.

 

Parking charges from July 30th to August 3rd have been scrapped at the airport. 

 

Runways checks will be needed before the airport can reopen.  

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-08-03

 

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[webfact]

Closure of Mae Fah Luang airport runway extended until Friday night

 

 

Thailand’s Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai international airport has announced an extension to the closure of the airport’s runway, until Friday night, to facilitate the removal of Nok Air’s disabled Boeing 737-800, which is partially blocking the runway.

 

According to the airport’s director, Squadron-Leader Somchanok Tiamtiabrat, the removal team had succeeded in lifting the embedded main landing gear and had moved the aircraft six meters from the original site by about noon yesterday (Tuesday), but the landing gear got stuck in the muddy ground again, following heavy rain the night before.

 

He said that more equipment will have to be brought in to complete the work and that will take more time.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/closure-of-mae-fah-luang-airport-runway-extended-until-friday-night/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-08-03

 

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[Tuvoc]

Well, hopefully they'll have it all resolved in 10 days time when I'm due to fly out of Chiang Rai,  otherwise I'll have to fly out of Chiang Mai instead. Any bets ?

[khwaibah]

Cheap  Charlie airport, airplane, pilot and this government.

[SAFETY FIRST]

It's Karma. 

 

These idiots canceled my gf's flight last year, it was the day of departure 

 

There you go Nok, nice doing business with you. 

 

[Mac Mickmanus]

32 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's Karma. 

 

These idiots canceled my gf's flight last year, it was the day of departure 

 

There you go Nok, nice doing business with you. 

 

I do hope that other airlines now realise what will happen if they cancel your girlfriends flight in the future .Could you send me a PM and let me know whether any airlines cancel your GF's flight in the future , as I wouldnt want to get on a airplane thats going to crash

[kotsak]

Do I have the feeling they don't have the proper equipment for such a task?

[bdenner]

Really surprised to see the bird (nok) beak still on the tail, Thai's are usually quick to get out the black paint and disguise the owners identity after prangs be it bus, truck or aircraft etc.

[Mac Mickmanus]

29 minutes ago, kotsak said:

Do I have the feeling they don't have the proper equipment for such a task?

I don't know, do you ?

What proper equipment do you think that they didn't have 

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I do hope that other airlines now realise what will happen if they cancel your girlfriends flight in the future .Could you send me a PM and let me know whether any airlines cancel your GF's flight in the future , as I wouldnt want to get on a airplane thats going to crash

It's about bloody time somebody took my comments seriously. 

Thank you, I thought I was just wasting my time. 

 

BTW, she's flying from Buriram to BKK on the 7th. 

Flight number DD345

 

[Boomer6969]

Thailand at its best. ????????????????????

[Boomer6969]

But my builder would have done the job in less than a day with one of these.

 

 

[vandeventer]

2 hours ago, kotsak said:

Do I have the feeling they don't have the proper equipment for such a task?

It's very hard to move a 737-800 stuck in the mud ,but more equipment is coming for the small airport.

[Alotoftravel]

Should it not be AOT that manages airports in thailand comment on these issues , 

aren’t the issues related to airport ? 

https://www.airportthai.co.th/en/

 

 

[Burma Bill]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

before an investigation concludes as to why it was 90 minutes before the plane was evacuated.

I find this unbelievable! What if there had been a fuel leak?? I thought the immediate evacuation of the aircraft was paramount, despite the weather conditions. 

[Tropposurfer]

Nok nok whos there?

[mikeymike100]

They need to get Joe Patroni ASAP!! ????

[Cake Monster]

Most of the delays on salvaging he Aircraft have probably been down to the workers being scared of all the dangerous Animals that are maybe prowling the site. ????

[Tuvoc]

2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

It's very hard to move a 737-800 stuck in the mud ,but more equipment is coming for the small airport.

Yes, and probably something they have not done before.

[VocalNeal]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

why it was 90 minutes before the plane was evacuated.

What and deploy expensive evacuation slides for no reason????

[VocalNeal]

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's about bloody time somebody took my comments seriously. 

What and change a habit????

[Boomer6969]

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

They need to get Joe Patroni ASAP!! ????

Jeez, u remember characters of a 1975 movie?

[malibukid]

5 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I don't know, do you ?

What proper equipment do you think that they didn't have 

easy just disassemble the plane piece by piece Thai style

[Bangkok Barry]

8 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's Karma. 

 

These idiots canceled my gf's flight last year, it was the day of departure 

 

There you go Nok, nice doing business with you. 

 

I long ago gave up flying with them. Three flights in a row I was booked on were cancelled or delayed, and look at the departures board at any airport and you're sure to see one or more of their flights cancelled or delayed. If there is a choice, and there usually is, take another airline. Even if it costs more.

[PETERTHEEATER]

6 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I don't know, do you ?

What proper equipment do you think that they didn't have 

Heavy lift All Terrain Cranes and recovery trailers plus experienced crew....

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

Jeez, u remember characters of a 1975 movie?

Actually its a 1970 movie.

Based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name,

Its the first of 4 Airport movies. Yes i remember the characters, its not difficult! You must too?

[Mac Mickmanus]

13 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Heavy lift All Terrain Cranes and recovery trailers plus experienced crew....

Why didn't you go to the airport to supervise the planes recovery ?

[Boomer6969]

11 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

You must too?

Vaguely, but I read the novel. Photographic memory.

[Jaybott]

3 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

They need to get Joe Patroni ASAP!! ????

I think Ted Striker would be a better fit; after all TIT.

[Tuvoc]

3 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

long ago gave up flying with them. Three flights in a row I was booked on were cancelled or delayed, and look at the departures board at any airport and you're sure to see one or more of their flights cancelled or delayed. If there is a choice, and there usually is, take another airline. Even if it costs more.

I tend to use Thai Vietjet now, because they use SUVARNABHUMI and that is useful for connecting to international flights. I used to use Bangkok Airways for the same reason, but they stopped flying to Chiang Rai a while back. I did use Nok Air once or twice to Don Muang, but was probably lucky, I had no issues.