This quote especially stood out, "the airline stated this was not possible, as the airline no longer has the engine". is that because it fell off the wing into the ocean?

Nok Air is currently out of operation because of an avian influenza outbreak.

On 8/31/2025 at 9:41 AM, GreasyFingers said:

What a shame. Have always preferred to fly Nok domestically in preference to the other two. Had problems with both over the years with cancelling flights or not being on time.

Then you should be happy, they still fly domestically 

We used Nok for domestic flight recently. It was okay but we prefer Thai Lion Air or Viet Jet.

So, NokAir is not safe for international flights but safe for domestic flights ?
 

How can the failure be unexplained? There is a thing called the black box that records everything including normal operations by flight crew as well as failure issues. If it is unexplained maybe the black box recording should be examined.

31 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

How can the failure be unexplained? There is a thing called the black box that records everything including normal operations by flight crew as well as failure issues. If it is unexplained maybe the black box recording should be examined.

I bet they never looked. Just changed the engine and go again. Thai’s don’t seem to have much intellectual curiosity as to why things happen. Probably why bad things keep repeating themselves 

54 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

How can the failure be unexplained? There is a thing called the black box that records everything including normal operations by flight crew as well as failure issues. If it is unexplained maybe the black box recording should be examined.

No good if it the data was not downloaded at the time, as the engine shutdown incident occurred on January 8, 2024, during a flight bound for Nanning, China.

 

Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), normally records the last 2 hours of cockpit sounds and crew conversations.

 

Flight Data Recorder (FDR), noramlly stores at least 25 hours of flight data (hundreds to thousands of parameters such as speed, altitude, control inputs, etc.).

 

Both are designed to overwrite the oldest data continuously, so they only retain the most recent time span.

36 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

No good if it the data was not downloaded at the time, as the engine shutdown incident occurred on January 8, 2024, during a flight bound for Nanning, China.

 

Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), normally records the last 2 hours of cockpit sounds and crew conversations.

 

Flight Data Recorder (FDR), noramlly stores at least 25 hours of flight data (hundreds to thousands of parameters such as speed, altitude, control inputs, etc.).

 

Both are designed to overwrite the oldest data continuously, so they only retain the most recent time span.

But there are extensive logs of servicing and repair history going back since the engine went into service.

 

I mean, the information is there, if they look. Or, just throw that engine away and get another and keep on flying regardless. Easier that way, so I bet that’s what they did.

10 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

But there are extensive logs of servicing and repair history going back since the engine went into service.

 

I mean, the information is there, if they look. Or, just throw that engine away and get another and keep on flying regardless. Easier that way, so I bet that’s what they did.

Two completely different things.

 

The maintenance logs will not have the real time data of what occurred during inflight shut down.

On 8/30/2025 at 11:35 AM, JoePai said:

Why not ground domestic also ?

It could be that the problem lies not in Thailand, but in the airports where the aircraft are inspected and maintained.

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

I bet they never looked. Just changed the engine and go again. Thai’s don’t seem to have much intellectual curiosity as to why things happen. Probably why bad things keep repeating themselves 

Exactly

58 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

No good if it the data was not downloaded at the time, as the engine shutdown incident occurred on January 8, 2024, during a flight bound for Nanning, China.

 

Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), normally records the last 2 hours of cockpit sounds and crew conversations.

 

Flight Data Recorder (FDR), noramlly stores at least 25 hours of flight data (hundreds to thousands of parameters such as speed, altitude, control inputs, etc.).

 

Both are designed to overwrite the oldest data continuously, so they only retain the most recent time span.

They are looking at the data that they can retrieve from the Malaysian airline disaster so some will be stored if not all

17 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

They are looking at the data that they can retrieve from the Malaysian airline disaster so some will be stored if not all

MH370 data was from.

 

1. Satellite “handshake” data (Inmarsat)

 

The aircraft’s satellite data unit (SDU) automatically pinged the Inmarsat satellite network, used to estimate the plane’s position along an arc in the southern Indian Ocean.

 

This data gave only approximate location and flight path, not detailed engine or crew information.

 

2. Military and civilian radar

 

Radar detected MH370’s path after it deviated from its flight plan.

 

Shows general heading, speed, and altitude changes, but no engine or system performance details.

 

3. ACARS messages

 

MH370’s ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) stopped transmitting shortly after takeoff.

 

Only a few automated messages reached ground systems, giving very limited system health info. Remember after 11 years they have never located the aircraft or have any idea of the cause of the incident.

 

ACARS sends and receives short messages between the aircraft and airline/ground operations, it does not have the same data as recorded on the FDR. Nok Air aircrafts have ACARS, but it has not publicly disclosed the specific details about the implementation of the system.

 

 

Too bad about Nok Air's international routes - but I share the suspicions of others. THAI Airways has too much competition currently with cheap airlines ferrying passengers back and forth to China and India. I guess that's why THAI bailed out of of Thai SMILE too. Actually, I was under the impression THAI was also the owner, or part owner, of Nok. Maybe years back? I flew Nok a couple of times to Khon Kaen, but that was many years ago. It seemed fine.

On 8/30/2025 at 4:24 PM, Georgealbert said:

 

File picture for reference only, courtesy of Nok Air.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has ordered Nok Air to suspend all international flights and halt any route expansion over persistent safety concerns, a move that has sent shockwaves through the country’s travel sector.

 

The directive, issued on 25 August, cites a series of operational incidents dating from 2023 to 2025, including in-flight engine shutdowns, runway excursions, hard landings and tail strikes. 
 

Nok Air is currently not conducting international flights due to the low travel season. During during peak times, the airline serves three destinations in China and two in India.

 

While one engine failure remains unexplained, with CAAT requesting a root cause analysis of the incident, the airline stated this was not possible, as the airline no longer has the engine.

 

CAAT also highlighted ongoing issues with personnel turnover among pilots, instructors and flight inspectors, raising broader questions about the airline’s operational consistency.

 

Nok Air, founded in 2004 as Sky Asia Co. Ltd., has long struggled with safety and reliability despite its strong domestic presence. The airline faced additional scrutiny following a Boeing 737-800 runway overshoot at Chiang Rai airport in July 2022, though no passengers were injured.

 

Chief Executive Wutthiphum Jurangkool stated that the airline had replaced the faulty engine involved in last year’s incident on a flight to Nanning, China, and insisted that departures of several staff members were due to moves to other carriers, not safety failings. “In our 21 years of operation, Nok Air has never had a fatal accident. We’ve experienced incidents, such as the runway excursion during heavy rain at Chiang Rai airport in 2022, but such force majeure events can occur with any airline.”, he said, emphasising the airline’s ongoing compliance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) safety audits.

 

While domestic operations continue, Nok Air now faces a critical period to address safety deficiencies. The airline is working with Boeing and technology partners to enhance pilot monitoring and training,. Meeting CAAT’s compliance requirements may seem a formidable task, but the Chief Executive is optimistic it the can be achieved within a month.

 

This suspension is part of a broader effort to ensure full compliance with ICAO standards, as the ICAO audit of Thailand’s aviation safety system is scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 8, 2025.

 

The airline’s suspension underscores Thailand’s broader commitment to safety over growth, as officials seek to rebuild global confidence in its aviation sector. For Nok Air, the immediate challenge will be restoring trust and demonstrating that its low-cost services can operate safely on international routes.

 

Until then, the airline’s slogan, “Smiling Across Asia”, may seem more aspirational than reality for travellers navigating the disruption caused by its grounding.

 

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from TravelandTourWorld 2025-08-30

 

 

 

 

I'm not flying on any airline that paints their planes like cartoons 🤣

9 hours ago, LosLobo said:

 

 

You said — Thai Airways serves all regional airports in Thailand.
If that isn’t true, own it.
Don’t obfuscate with red herrings and moving goalposts.
Easier to admit than spin.

 

What's your point? References were made to airports that do not even have Nok service. That was pointed out. Then a claim was made that  Nok was an important regional airline carrier. This was shown to  be  inaccurate. Nok only served 4 million passengers last year, the majority  of which were between the 5 busiest airports; DMK, CNX, HKT, CEI and HDY.  TG also flies to these destinations plus UTH and UBP.  The balance of  Nok flights were to airports with marginal passenger volumes, destinations that  are not profitable.  Nok's  competitors  serve almost all  the same destinations as Nok.

 

Of course TG serves regional airports.  Small low volume local airports are not regional airports. They are termed domestic airports. A regional airport is one which serves a geographic region greater than a local  area.   NNT has 400,000 pax and MAQ is 150,000 pax. These are not regional airports, but are domestic airports. Big difference in civil aviation. Why are you even fixating on TG not flying to a place like MAQ?  The city has a population of less than 50,000. It has one daily flight with Nok, which isn't profitable  It is a small domestic airport well served by the bus lines. TG flies to the destinations which have  passenger volumes that support a full service airline operation.

 

Nok is an airline with only 14 passenger aircraft. It does not have the fleet to allow it to be a significant regional air carrier.Thai Air Asia is a regional airline carrier. It has a fleet of 62 aircraft that allows it to be  a regional carrier. TG has a fleet of 26 narrow bodies. It will use wide bodies  from its fleet of 52 on popular routes during peak travel season and has fleet flexibility. Thai Lion, Thai Air Asia, and TG all have regional hubs that allow for a multi regional service.  Nok as one hub at DMK. 

 

 

 

On 8/30/2025 at 5:24 AM, Georgealbert said:

 

File picture for reference only, courtesy of Nok Air.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has ordered Nok Air to suspend all international flights and halt any route expansion over persistent safety concerns, a move that has sent shockwaves through the country’s travel sector.

 

The directive, issued on 25 August, cites a series of operational incidents dating from 2023 to 2025, including in-flight engine shutdowns, runway excursions, hard landings and tail strikes. 
 

Nok Air is currently not conducting international flights due to the low travel season. During during peak times, the airline serves three destinations in China and two in India.

 

While one engine failure remains unexplained, with CAAT requesting a root cause analysis of the incident, the airline stated this was not possible, as the airline no longer has the engine.

 

CAAT also highlighted ongoing issues with personnel turnover among pilots, instructors and flight inspectors, raising broader questions about the airline’s operational consistency.

 

Nok Air, founded in 2004 as Sky Asia Co. Ltd., has long struggled with safety and reliability despite its strong domestic presence. The airline faced additional scrutiny following a Boeing 737-800 runway overshoot at Chiang Rai airport in July 2022, though no passengers were injured.

 

Chief Executive Wutthiphum Jurangkool stated that the airline had replaced the faulty engine involved in last year’s incident on a flight to Nanning, China, and insisted that departures of several staff members were due to moves to other carriers, not safety failings. “In our 21 years of operation, Nok Air has never had a fatal accident. We’ve experienced incidents, such as the runway excursion during heavy rain at Chiang Rai airport in 2022, but such force majeure events can occur with any airline.”, he said, emphasising the airline’s ongoing compliance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) safety audits.

 

While domestic operations continue, Nok Air now faces a critical period to address safety deficiencies. The airline is working with Boeing and technology partners to enhance pilot monitoring and training,. Meeting CAAT’s compliance requirements may seem a formidable task, but the Chief Executive is optimistic it the can be achieved within a month.

 

This suspension is part of a broader effort to ensure full compliance with ICAO standards, as the ICAO audit of Thailand’s aviation safety system is scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 8, 2025.

 

The airline’s suspension underscores Thailand’s broader commitment to safety over growth, as officials seek to rebuild global confidence in its aviation sector. For Nok Air, the immediate challenge will be restoring trust and demonstrating that its low-cost services can operate safely on international routes.

 

Until then, the airline’s slogan, “Smiling Across Asia”, may seem more aspirational than reality for travellers navigating the disruption caused by its grounding.

 

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from TravelandTourWorld 2025-08-30

 

 

 

 

• Could Nok Air's International Grounding  be politically motivated?
• Jurangkool Family and Political Connections:
  • Wutthiphum Jurangkool is the cousin of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the former leader of the progressive Future Forward Party, which was dissolved in 2020 by Thailand’s Constitutional Court amid political controversy. Thanathorn remains a polarizing figure in Thai politics, associated with anti-establishment movements.
     
  • Although Wutthiphum has publicly distanced himself from politics, stating in 2020 that he is “not that into political stuff” and has not seen Thanathorn in nearly a decade, the family’s prominence could invite scrutiny from political actors.
  • In Thailand’s polarized political landscape, where business and politics often intersect, regulatory actions against a company linked to a family with political ties (even distant ones) could be perceived as targeted, especially if the government or regulators have ties to opposing factions.
• Thai Airways and Nok Air Tensions:
  • Nok Air operates largely independently of Thai Airways, its parent company, which holds an 8.91% stake. Historical friction exists, as Thai Airways attempted to increase its stake in Nok Air by purchasing shares from Krungthai Bank (a state enterprise), which was blocked by the bank despite both entities being under the Finance Ministry’s oversight.
  • This refusal suggests potential bureaucratic or political rivalries within state-controlled entities. The CAAT, also a state entity, could theoretically be influenced by such dynamics, especially if Thai Airways or its allies sought to limit Nok Air’s growth to favor other carriers (e.g., Thai Airways or Thai AirAsia).
• ICAO Audit and National Reputation:
  • The CAAT’s actions coincide with an ICAO audit scheduled for late August 2025, a critical moment for Thailand’s aviation industry to regain a higher safety rating (e.g., from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which downgraded Thailand to Category 2 in 2015).
     
  • Suspending Nok Air’s international flights could be a strategic move to demonstrate strict regulatory enforcement to international bodies, bolstering Thailand’s global aviation reputation. While this is a regulatory motive, it could be politically driven if the government prioritizes national image over supporting a private airline with ties to a controversial family.
• Market Competition and Economic Interests:
  • The suspension leaves Nok Air’s international routes (e.g., to China and India) open to competitors like Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, and Bangkok Airways. These carriers could benefit economically from absorbing Nok Air’s passengers, raising questions about whether lobbying or influence from competing airlines played a role.
  • Thailand’s tourism-driven economy relies heavily on aviation, and the government may prioritize carriers with stronger financials or fewer safety concerns, potentially sidelining Nok Air to avoid risks to the sector’s recovery post-pandemic.
• Historical Context of Political Influence in Thai Aviation:
  • Thailand’s aviation sector has faced political interference in the past. For example, the 2015 FAA downgrade was linked to weak regulatory oversight, prompting the CAAT’s creation in 2016 to address governance issues.
  • Regulatory actions against airlines can sometimes mask political or economic agendas, such as favoring state-backed carriers or punishing companies perceived as misaligned with government priorities.
  •  

15 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Two completely different things.

 

The maintenance logs will not have the real time data of what occurred during inflight shut down.

I know they are different. But seems to me that both may be relevant. If they don’t have the flight recorder data, then maintenance logs might shed some light on the cause.

 

The point I am trying to make is, did they LOOK for the cause or just sweep it under the carpet and get a replacement engine and throw the old one away.

11 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

What's your point? References were made to airports that do not even have Nok service. That was pointed out. Then a claim was made that  Nok was an important regional airline carrier. This was shown to  be  inaccurate. Nok only served 4 million passengers last year, the majority  of which were between the 5 busiest airports; DMK, CNX, HKT, CEI and HDY.  TG also flies to these destinations plus UTH and UBP.  The balance of  Nok flights were to airports with marginal passenger volumes, destinations that  are not profitable.  Nok's  competitors  serve almost all  the same destinations as Nok.

 

Of course TG serves regional airports.  Small low volume local airports are not regional airports. They are termed domestic airports. A regional airport is one which serves a geographic region greater than a local  area.   NNT has 400,000 pax and MAQ is 150,000 pax. These are not regional airports, but are domestic airports. Big difference in civil aviation. Why are you even fixating on TG not flying to a place like MAQ?  The city has a population of less than 50,000. It has one daily flight with Nok, which isn't profitable  It is a small domestic airport well served by the bus lines. TG flies to the destinations which have  passenger volumes that support a full service airline operation.

 

Nok is an airline with only 14 passenger aircraft. It does not have the fleet to allow it to be a significant regional air carrier.Thai Air Asia is a regional airline carrier. It has a fleet of 62 aircraft that allows it to be  a regional carrier. TG has a fleet of 26 narrow bodies. It will use wide bodies  from its fleet of 52 on popular routes during peak travel season and has fleet flexibility. Thai Lion, Thai Air Asia, and TG all have regional hubs that allow for a multi regional service.  Nok as one hub at DMK. 

 

 

You asked what’s my point?

My point — You said Thai Airways serves all regional airports in Thailand.
The burden of proof is yours, and you haven’t produced it.
The only conclusion is that you’re making it up.

As Hitchens put it: What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

4 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

I know they are different. But seems to me that both may be relevant. If they don’t have the flight recorder data, then maintenance logs might shed some light on the cause.

 

The point I am trying to make is, did they LOOK for the cause or just sweep it under the carpet and get a replacement engine and throw the old one away.

Maintenance logs are relevant, but the black box data, if it was downloaded would have provided:

 

1. Real-time engine performance data

 

The FDR captures second-by-second sensor readings,such as, spool speeds, fuel flow, exhaust gas temperature (EGT), oil pressure, vibration levels, bleed air and thrust settings.

 

It also shows exactly how the engine behaved in the moments leading up to and during the shutdown.

 

2. Sequence of events

 

Did the shutdown follow abnormal vibrations, rising temperatures, compressor stalls or sudden fuel pressure loss.

 

Was the shutdown automatic or commanded manually by the crew?

 

3. Crew actions & cockpit environment.

 

The CVR audio records whether the crew discussed warnings, EICAS (Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System), as it was a Boring 737-800 aircraft, messages, or abnormal indications before taking action.

 

Reveals if the shutdown was precautionary, procedural or in response to an emergency.

 

4. Correlation with aircraft systems

 

Shows how other systems (electrical, hydraulics, bleed air, pressurisation) responded to the engine shutdown in real time.

 

CAAT are seeking a root cause analysis of the shutdown, which is going to very difficult, if not impossible, if the real time data was never download and the engine has gone.

 

Maintenance records will confirm what was done before the incident and if required testing, repairs, servicing, etc. were completed to the required standards/manufacturer guidelines, but will not provide the real time data needed to analyse why or what caused the engine shutdown.

On 8/30/2025 at 9:17 PM, EVENKEEL said:

It's still safer than bus travel.

and motorcycle !!

Happy and memorable days! 

 

No doubt many of you will remember the NOK AIR MINI routes operated using chartered Siam General Aviation's SAAB 340B turbo-props. 

 

I used to fly from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai using Nok Air Mini. In those days there were THREE return flights per day (if my memory is correct) compared to today's ONE. The aircraft was exceptionally comfortable with plenty of legroom, and one was given a snack meal during the flight. Sadly NOK AIR fell out with Siam General Aviation and the latter ceased trading. Nok Air then used a Boeing 737 for the one return journey from Chiang Mai (at that time).

 

 

For reference:-

 

Siam General Aviation (SGA) and Nok Air had a partnership where SGA operated under the Nok Mini brand for Nok Air's commuter services. The partnership ended in March 2014 when Nok Air sought to consolidate its image under a single brand, leading to SGA ceasing operations. (Google)

 

That's quite worrisome, maybe best avoided on domestic flights for the time being as well. 

On 8/31/2025 at 11:24 AM, EVENKEEL said:

The flight Utapao Airport to Samui on Scoot I think, the only flight where the entire plane clapped when we landed.

Scoot flies to Samui from Singapore, so that would have been Bangkok Airways from Utapao

UPDATE
 

Nok Air Eyes Takeoff As CAAT Reviews Safety Plan