Thai-panic: AirAsia flight defies disaster over denied landing in India

[webfact]

A Thai AirAsia flight found itself in a death-defying situation straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster when it was denied permission to land at an airport in India. Passengers were left fearing for their lives as the aircraft was forced to circle for a staggering 45 minutes with only 30 minutes of fuel remaining in the tank.

 

The drama unfolded as the Airbus A320, captained by Mathawat Aphiratnathapong, eventually received clearance to land but was then detained for four hours at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, Nepal, after arriving without the necessary clearance. It was only released on Sunday, October 27, after the pilot issued a formal apology. The flight finally took off for Bangkok at 6.57pm.

 

TIA General Manager Jagannath Niraula explained that the pilot claimed the flight had been arranged by Nepalese agent Universal Tours and Travels, which insisted all required clearances were in place. Following the pilot’s written apology, TIA granted the release.

 

Prior to the chaotic landing, the plane was instructed to hold at 14,000 feet above Simara. With fuel running dangerously low, the captain desperately sought permission to land, which was ultimately granted. The flight, carrying 176 passengers to Kathmandu, was scheduled to return with 160 travellers to Bangkok.

According to sources within the tourism ministry, Universal Tours and Travels, run by Parashar Prasai, had previously organised Thai AirAsia flights with conditional approval to land in Bhairahawa from October 2.

 

This authorisation hinged on settling a 270 million rupee (113 million baht) debt owed by AirAsia dating back to before the pandemic. Prasai had provided a bank guarantee to clear the arrears, resulting in a conditional permit for flights to Kathmandu, with plans to shift services to Bhairahawa after a feasibility assessment.

 

Gyanendra Bhul, Deputy Spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, clarified that the airline was lacking clearance under the winter schedule, which started on Sunday and had only been authorised for Kathmandu flights from October 2 to 27.

 

Nepal’s flight schedules are revised seasonally: the winter timetable runs from the last Sunday of October to the last Sunday of March, while summer flights span from late March to late October.

 

Efforts to contact Universal’s director, Prasai, for a comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to messages, The Kathmandu Post reported.

 

by Bob Scott 
Picture courtesy of AirAsia

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-10-29

 

 

[theshu25]

Yes,shifted last week obviously

[sammieuk1]

In all probability the passengers will be asked to cough up for the extra fuel and staff O/T  🤔

[JoePai]

This authorisation hinged on settling a 270 million rupee (113 million baht) debt owed by AirAsia dating back to before the pandemic. 

 

555 and the surprise is ....?

[khunjeff]

Please...there was no "panic", no "imminent disaster", no one "fearing for their lives", and no "chaotic landing". The plane circled and then landed, as planes often do.

[renaissanc]

If I had been the pilot, I'd have said something like this to the control tower. "We are going to crash as a result of no fuel left. I want to know each of your names for the plane's voice recorder. The investigation will find out anyway. Then you can all be jailed for life after the crash." I'd have added a few expletives as encouragement.

[NicoBKK]

1 hour ago, khunjeff said:

Please...there was no "panic", no "imminent disaster", no one "fearing for their lives", and no "chaotic landing". The plane circled and then landed, as planes often do.

With still more that 30min of fuel left but burning fast the Pilot can declare "Minimum Fuel" and ATC will TRY to prioritise the clearance to land. With 30min or less, "MAYDAY Fuel" can be declared and any ATC MUST allow the airplane to land (in many cases even at an Army airport), then assessing any needed paperwork later once is safely down. This is what they did - I also see no drama but should have been avoided wit proper paperwork in place

Edited Tuesday at 06:25 AM by NicoBKK

[NicoBKK]

10 minutes ago, renaissanc said:

If I had been the pilot, I'd have said something like this to the control tower. "We are going to crash as a result of no fuel left. I want to know each of your names for the plane's voice recorder. The investigation will find out anyway. Then you can all be jailed for life after the crash." I'd have added a few expletives as encouragement.

Mayday Fuel is enough as is recorded in the black box and ATC controller is responsible in case of issues.

[BKKBike09]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

with plans to shift services to Bhairahawa after a feasibility assessment.

Ah, Bhairawha. Gateway to .... nowhere interesting whatsoever.

 

Fun fact: the airport upgrade there was slowed after the contractors were told they could not use heavy equipment to move sand from nearby rivers, but had to do it all by hand.

[soi3eddie]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Passengers were left fearing for their lives as the aircraft was forced to circle for a staggering 45 minutes with only 30 minutes of fuel remaining in the tank.

 

What I want to know is how it kept flying with minus 15 minutes of fuel...

 

[connda]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

This authorisation hinged on settling a 270 million rupee (113 million baht) debt owed by AirAsia dating back to before the pandemic.

Well instead of risking a crash, simply impound the plane once it's on the ground.  "Duhhhhhh."

[Rimmer]

A news clickbait troll post has been removed, if you don't like the news report don't read it but please don't post your negative comments in the forum for others to read, thank you. 

@Chongalulu @brfsa2

[Burma Bill]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

when it was denied permission to land at an airport in India.

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The flight, carrying 176 passengers to Kathmandu,

 

Is ther some confusion here? Kathmandu is in NEPAL not India.

[Aussie999]

Is Nepal now part of India... 555, I must inform China.

[saakura]

What has Kathmandu & Tribhuvan airport got to do with India? They are in Nepal which is an independent nation.

[Gobbler]

The Captain should be admonished for NOT DECLARING an EMERGENCY. Then he lands where he wants. Air traffic controllers do not RULE the sky. Pilots rule the sky. 

[Liverpool Lou]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

the aircraft was forced to circle for a staggering 45 minutes with only 30 minutes of fuel remaining in the tank.

Staggering nonsense, obviously.

Edited Tuesday at 11:26 AM by Liverpool Lou

[Gobbler]

Why would the crew not declare an emergency? Would this action cause a loss of face? 

[transam]

6 hours ago, khunjeff said:

Please...there was no "panic", no "imminent disaster", no one "fearing for their lives", and no "chaotic landing". The plane circled and then landed, as planes often do.

Oh, you were on it...........

[Gobbler]

4 hours ago, NicoBKK said:

Mayday Fuel is enough as is recorded in the black box and ATC controller is responsible in case of issues.

No, the PIC or pilot in command is responsible for everything.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

Is Nepal now part of India... 555, I must inform China.

 

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

 

Is ther some confusion here? Kathmandu is in NEPAL not India.

No confusion.  Destination Nepal, running low on fuel so requested landing in India, refused, so, with no other choice, carried on to Nepal.

Edited Tuesday at 12:35 PM by metisdead
Removed post edited out.

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, Gobbler said:

Why would the crew not declare an emergency? Would this action cause a loss of face? 

Because it wasn't an emergency.
 

[LukKrueng]

6 hours ago, renaissanc said:

If I had been the pilot, I'd have said something like this to the control tower. "We are going to crash as a result of no fuel left. I want to know each of your names for the plane's voice recorder. The investigation will find out anyway. Then you can all be jailed for life after the crash." I'd have added a few expletives as encouragement.

If I had been the pilot I'd head to the nearest alternate airport.

[Gobbler]

5 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Because it wasn't an emergency.
 

I don't care if you think it fits a certain narrative. The Captain is GOD in the skies, and he does what he wants.

[Gobbler]

6 hours ago, renaissanc said:

If I had been the pilot, I'd have said something like this to the control tower. "We are going to crash as a result of no fuel left. I want to know each of your names for the plane's voice recorder. The investigation will find out anyway. Then you can all be jailed for life after the crash." I'd have added a few expletives as encouragement.

Mayday Mayday Mayday and declaring an emergency is all that is required. 

[josephbloggs]

1 minute ago, Gobbler said:

I don't care if you think it fits a certain narrative. The Captain is GOD in the skies, and he does what he wants.

What the Hell are you talking about? Where did I say the captain was not in charge? Of course he/she is!

I was replying to your ridiculous idea that they didn't declare an emergency because it would be a loss of face. They didn't declare an emergency because IT WASN'T AN EMERGENCY. If it was an emergency the captain would have declared one. Got it?

 

Quote

Why would the crew not declare an emergency? Would this action cause a loss of face? 

 

[Gobbler]

2 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

What the Hell are you talking about? Where did I say the captain was not in charge? Of course he/she is!

I was replying to your ridiculous idea that they didn't declare an emergency because it would be a loss of face. They didn't declare an emergency because IT WASN'T AN EMERGENCY. If it was an emergency the captain would have declared one. Got it?

 

 

Here is your example: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/horrifying-video-shows-crucial-moment-asiana-flight-214-crashed-sf-flna2D11730121

[Gobbler]

Investigators said Lee — who was being trained by a more experienced 777 pilot — also felt pressure not to tell his training pilot that he wanted to abort the landing because Korean culture wouldn't have allowed him to speak up, even though he was warned that he was descending too sharply and at too low a speed.

 

[Gobbler]

Gobbler is a pilot. Gobbler does not quibble with useless facts. The Gobbler always brings the receipts.

[CHdiver]

3 hours ago, Gobbler said:

Air traffic controllers do not RULE the sky. Pilots rule the sky. 

They just rule as long as they get the permission from Air traffic control. As soon as you do your own thing as a pilot and do what you want, you will get in deep dodo. May even end up with some Military Jets help you along. 

 

Also declaring a false mayday will again get you into trouble. Of course having nearly no fuel left will be an emergency, but only if sertain limits are reached. Do stupid things as a Pilot and you loose your licence faster then you can say but but but I rule the sky... 🤣