Samui Airport To Resume Operation This Afternoon

[Carlos Primeros]

Hello all,

the first commercial plane has landed in Samui at about 14.35 and just now the first Airbus of Bangkok Airways has landed and is taxiing to the apron.

So Samui Airport seems to be open again.

Regards

Carlos

[SamuiRes]

Bangkok Airways Press Release just received

PR2009/051

Samui Airport resumes normal operation this afternoon

Samui/ 5 August 2009; 14:00 hrs – Samui Airport re-opened early this afternoon with the first departure on PG 100 leaving Samui at 14.00 hrs and arriving at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 15.00 hrs. The first departure from Suvarnabhumi Airport is PG 153 at 14.00 hrs with an arrival in Samui at 15.00 hrs.

Today’s flight movements in and out of Samui Airport are as in the followings.

1. Bangkok-Samui 16 flights

2. Samui-Bangkok 17 flights

3. Samui-Phuket 1 flight

4. Phuket-Samui 1 flight

5. Utapao-Samui 1 flight

6. Samui-Utapao 1 flight

7. Samui-Singapore 2 flights

8. Singapore-Samui 2 flights

9. Samui-Hong Kong 1 flight

10. Hong Kong-Samui 1 flight

For more information please contact Bangkok Airways’ Call Center 1771.

Corporate Communications

Bangkok Airways

[SamuiRes]

Second Bangkok Airways Press Release received earlier but superceded by later Press Release

(Only just got to the office so could not post earlier)

PR2009/049

Bangkok Airways’ President heads to Samui

Bangkok / 5 August 2009; 10:00 hrs – Captain Puttipong Prasattong-Osoth, the President of Bangkok Airways, is scheduled to be in Samui today for an on-site inspection as well as to visit the remaining 8 passengers with injuries at the Bangkok Samui Hospital. Passengers with minor injuries have all returned to hotel, and those who have not been injured are taken care of at a designated hotel under a close look of psychiatrists.

Upon his visit, he released a statement of sympathy: “On behalf of Bangkok Airways, I would like to, again, express my sympathy towards our passengers and crews who have been affected from the unfortunate accident of PG 266 in Samui, particularly my deepest condolence to the family of Captain Chatchai Punsuvan, who lost his life in this accident. While the investigation of this accident remains underway, Bangkok Airways’ management reassures that we continue to take safety as priority in all aspects of our operations,” said Captain Puttipong, “We are conforming to our Crisis Management standard in order to regain our status in normalcy the fastest possible,” added Captain Puttipong.

The latest update: Bangkok Airways had extra flights on standby the whole night at Suratthani Airport with necessary transfers arranged for all stranded passengers between Suratthani Airport (alternate airport) and Samui on both ferry and airlift mobilization by helicopters from Bangkok Hospital and the National Police Bureau, due to the temporary closure of Samui Airport since yesterday. Meanwhile, Samui Airport is expected to reopen at around 13.00 hrs this afternoon.

The flight movements between Bangkok and Suratthani are as in the followings.

Bangkok-Suratthani/ Suratthani-Bangkok

PG 5111 06.00-07.50/ PG 5112 07.45-08.50 (extra flight)

PG 103 06.00-07.05/ PG 104 07.45-08.50

PG 121 07.30-08.35/ PG 122 09.15-10.20

PG 5125 08.00-09.05/ PG 5126 09.45-10.50 (extra flight)

PG 123 08.15-09.20/ PG 217 10.00-11.05

PG 127 09.00-10.05/ PG 128 10.45-11.50

PG 805 09.40-10.45/ PG 138 12.20-13.25

Chiang Mai-Suratthani

PG 242 09.55-11.40

For more information please contact Emergency Call Center at 02 265 8777.

Corporate Communications

Bangkok Airways

[george]

Bangkok Airways co-pilot remains in critical condition

BANGKOK: -- The co-pilot of Bangkok Airways' Flight PG266 remained in critical condition at the Bangkok Hospital and require another surgery on his chest and abdomen Wednesday night, the hospital announced.

Doctor Chatree Duangnet, Bangkok Hospital CEO, said the co-pilot, Thanawat Premreuthai, remained in intensive care unit under close watch of doctors.

He said Thanawat suffered multiple bone fractures, broken right arm, broken left hip, and a broken rib pierced through his right lung, causing internal breeding in his abdomen. His livers were also torn because of the impact.

Chatree said Thanawat had received a primary surgery at the Bangkok Samui Hospital but the Bangkok Hospital would require to perform an operation to open his abdomen and chest to cure the internal injuries.

-- The Nation 2009-08-05

[jackdanielsesq]

Not to appear flippant, but will they knock that thing down now?

BR>Jack

[JulianLS]

as the aircraft was already taxiing down the runway, approx. 300 mtr. it is more likely to be a sudden technical failure....!

The news reported that the air traffic controllers notified the pilot of the windy conditions, but the fact that the plane landed safely and traveled for 300 meters seems to indicate the wind was not the sole or necessarily even the primary cause. The fact that the plane landed normally, traveled for 300 meters and then veered into the old tower seems to indicate that something went wrong at that point (perhaps mechanical failure/malfunction, pilot error, debris on the runway, etc.

I witnessed this tragic accident and was listning on my airband radio.

Two airbus aircraft took off on runway 35 in short succession, at the same time as the ATR72 reported downwind for runway 35 and asked for a wind check. The tower informed him the wind as 300/15kts. The pilot reported turning base and was given the wind as 290/18kts and cleared to land. At this time it began to rain heavily and I was interested to see the landing. The pilot seemed to make a textbook landing and continued down the centerline of the runway ,slowing down, to a point apposite the terminal building (maybe 500 meters) when it seemed he applied the brakes and the plane turned 90 degrees left (as if the right hand brakes failed) colliding head on into the old tower building.

...

I agree, given the descriptions of the accident it sounds much more like brake failure on one side than the effects of side wind....

[RKASA]

I used to fly rotaries, and admittedly know next to nothing about plank-wings, but was once sufficiently concerned about an approach into Phuket during a violent storm that I asked the chief steward what was going on.

He told me not to worry: 'Thai pilots know all the tricks'. This did not reassure me. As others have hinted, could there be cultural/financial factors here?

or it could be a good pilot with a great sense of humor.  

[animatic]

Well the co-pilot is in good hands,

the surgery staff at Bkk Samui Hospital is very, very good.

The plastic-surgeon / maxio-facial specialist is a magician.

Worked on my sister in law last year and she looks and feels

much better than ANYONE expected.

And from all appearances Bangkok Airlines has stepped up and done the right things

on a number of levels dealing with this tragedy.

Bravo to both teams.

[reallyok]

I will not re-think that for a nanosecond. On 21 November 1990, a Bangkok Airways de Havilland Canada DHC-8-103 crashed on Koh Samui while attempting to land in heavy rain and high winds. All 38 people on board perished. That has been their only serious accident to date. The two other accidents they had in the past 30 years resulted on one fatality. Not bad. They are an excellent airline, with good equipment, and an excellent safety record. However, they had no business landing in that weather. Apparently, Samui is subject to wind shear, and the wind was really gusting at that time. They should have either stayed in the air, and circled the airport until things calmed down, which it did 30 minutes later, or they should have landed in Surat Thani, and waited out the storm.

I totally agree with you and whilst our thoughts are with the pilot and his family at this very sad time why is it that pilots still try to land planes when weather conditions are so dangerous.

Conditions so dangerous!!!

A current pilot with Dragonair stated , yesterday that this aircraft was landing behind another aircraft and would have listened for the pilot of that aircraft immediately in front of him for reporting on conditions. When the first aircraft landed saftely there was no reason to assume that conditions were dangerous so continued his approach.

A witness to the whole accident stated that the second aircraft had landed and about 300 metres into the landing , the aircraft suddenly swung to the left.

The dragonair pilot says that its possible that the right hand brake could have failed or that the left hand brake could have gripped if the right hand wheel had bounced thus slewing the aircraft around suddenly. There could also be the question of sudden windshear.

So in conclusion i don't think that we should be prepared to blame the pilot at this stage.

It is just not right, to all you experts please consider his family and stop pre empting the investigators .

And thank you stuart8 ( the dragon air pilot).....

[mrdome]

Some of the conclusions people have drawn after this accident just completely baffle me. It seems past experience, logic and probability mean very little to some.

Is it all about how many posts you make here - a secret prize I don't know about?

[reallyok]

Hello all,

the first commercial plane has landed in Samui at about 14.35 and just now the first Airbus of Bangkok Airways has landed and is taxiing to the apron.

So Samui Airport seems to be open again.

Regards

Carlos

Hey Carlos .............have you heard any news of a cheque from FOX NEWS yet.........lololololol

I'll have a Chang thanks !

[reallyok]

Update: -- Samui air crash cause to be known in one month

BANGKOK: -- The result of the investigation of Tuesday's Bangkok Airways plane crash on Samui island may be known within a month, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Chaisak Angkasuwan said Wednesday.

Mr Chaisak and Transport Minister Sophon Zarum inspected the site where the Bangkok Airways plane skidded off a Samui Airport runway and crashed into an old air control tower.

Officials finished collecting relevant evidence and the airport will resume its operations at 1 pm Wednesday.

Mr Chaisak said it may be about one month for investigators to determine the cause of the accident from the black box and the pilots' voice record. The co-pilot who survived the accident will be debriefed after he recovers.

The transport official said he believed the investigation will not take nearly a year as in the One-Two-Go air crash at Phuket International Airport two years ago.

The cause of the incident may relate to bad weather, human error, or a defective engine part, he said. More investigation is needed to determine the cause of the accident.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee is considering sending the black box of the aircraft for decoding in France and a rapid investigative result as the ATR 72 aircraft was manufactured there, said Kannika Khemawuthanont, Director-General of Thailand's Civil Aviation Department.

The black box of the One-Two-Go aircraft was sent to the US for investigation, she added.

Meanwhile, Ruangnam Jaikwang, chairman of the Southeastern Thai Hotel Association, said he was confident that Tuesday's plane crash would not affect tourism on Samui island.

Mr Ruangnam said he believed tourists would understand that the crash was an unexpected accident.

The Bangkok Airways on Wednesday provided ferries for about 200 stranded ticket holders from the island to the mainland to take the plane at Surat Thani Airport.

-- TNA 2009-08-05

FOFLMAO.....................Mr Ruangnam, how many accidents do you expect to happen ..... lololol

[sezze]

Turboprops are safer then jet's ... you do not like them , bad luck but they are safer .

Yes , many landings on Samui suffer from crosswinds , been going there for many years multiple times a year and i always strap myself very good with my hands put against the seat in front of me just in case . The runway it plenty long enough but the direction seems to be in the wrongs way . However no reason to change things and cut down another piece of land to build a 2th runway ( or a second airport like a couple of years ago ) .

Let's wait at the results of the investitgation , maybe it is pilot error , i do not know . But if it is a technical error ( braking ) then this will be taken care of for sure . In case you are wondering , BKK Air has got nothing to do with the investigation so if it is a bad maintenance they will say so . I do believe the safety of BKK Air is very good , and accidents do happen . How many people every year are killed on the roads of Samui ... now we got 1 ( let's hope it stays 1 ) in more then 10 years at the airport ... still too much but it isn't a bad track record either .

[asiawatcher]

She said the flight had an insurance of US$250 million plus another US$250 million for the plane.

-- The Nation 2009-08-05

WoW 250 million US for an ATR..................thought you could buy a widebody jet for that

Yep - you can buy a wide body jet for that - even a 747 - but you forget the public liability insurances, loss of revenues from loss of an aircraft until replacement can be found. Do the numbers. Daily flights x average seats x days until replacement.

[Lancashirelad]

The co-pilots list of injuries makes horrendous reading. I hope the guy pulls through......... it will take some determination.

[maimeepom]

I used to be an Aeronautical engineer for 6 years in UK, and the one time i flew from Samui to Bangkok on one of these aircraft, I noticed how poorly maintained these aircraft were, so much so that the steal wire was poking through the canvass on the tyres, and oil traces over the wings from engine cowls, and filthy to say the least thus making more drag and strain on the engines to be basic.

Samui is privately owned by Bangkok airways. I now fly Ultralights and all airfields and airports owned by Bangkok airways incur and 300 USD landing fee. I simply stay away from!! They are not hard up for cash they are just tight MF's!!!

Is anybody familiar with the Samui Airfield lay out?

I understand the ATR veered into a disused control tower.

Is it the closest obsticle to the runway?

If so, should this building not have been demolished when the new tower was completed?

In Europe many airports are now having to remove buildings constructed quite recently, as they are now deemed by the authorities to be in the runway safety zone.

I seem to remember a tragic accident in India, when a landing aircraft left the runway and took out the airport fire station.

Incidently, I am always amazed how Mae Hong Son is allowed to operate as a commercial airport, with a mountain situated at one end of the runway.......

As other contributors have stated, as far as the operation of the aircraft is concerned, lets await the outcome of the enquiry.

[peecee]

I have to say i believe that the runway is too short and would like see an upgrade as to lenght of the runway.Also most commercial airports have two runways and use either depending on wind direction and weather conditions. But this is Thailand I guess.I hope lessons are learnt by this crash for the future.

This a/c type is designed for short runway's (STOL) as well as rough strip's & should have been able to stop easily with reverse pitch, the weather condition's are the pilot's call.

A lot of large airports do have two runways but often run parallel to each other, one for take off's & the other for landing's. The old A configeraton of hard runway's dates back to the 30's & offered six heading's; thus allowing heavy bombers the extra lift when taking off directly into wind (with the advent of jet's these runway's fell into disrepair & are often refered to as the lazy runway, used for fire drill's etc). Smaller a/c used large grass strip's that gave them multi heading option's.

Today the pilot very often only has two option's from the one runway & therefore should either divert or orbit the local airspace if he think's crosswind's or windsheer will effect his landing; however financial pressures from airlines may also be on the pilot's mind should he decide to divert!

Edited August 5, 2009 by peecee

[Loptr]

So many experts with so little information...

The problem is not the airport or the airplane, but a poor decision on behave of the pilot in command... With reported cross-winds of 40-50kph, the prudent thing to do would have been to 'go around' or to divert to their alternate... BTW, I am a commercially rated pilot...

[animatic]

I used to be an Aeronautical engineer for 6 years in UK, and the one time i flew from Samui to Bangkok on one of these aircraft, I noticed how poorly maintained these aircraft were, so much so that the steal wire was poking through the canvass on the tyres, and oil traces over the wings from engine cowls, and filthy to say the least thus making more drag and strain on the engines to be basic.

Samui is privately owned by Bangkok airways. I now fly Ultralights and all airfields and airports owned by Bangkok airways incur and 300 USD landing fee. I simply stay away from!! They are not hard up for cash they are just tight MF's!!!

Is anybody familiar with the Samui Airfield lay out?

I understand the ATR veered into a disused control tower.

Is it the closest obsticle to the runway?

On the almost exact spot, but opposite side, about the same distance are two passenger terminals

for those waiting to board. They are stylish award-wining, and not too strong structures, not rebar cement,

and would likely not stop a fuselage quickly, but would shear off wings and tanks quickly, spraying fuel about.

There is some berming and plants, but it really would be quite easy for a plane to

surmount that and take out a plane load of waiting passengers.

The new tower is farther back from the strip.

{Can't find a picture right now.}

Edited August 5, 2009 by animatic

[beerchang]

I work on aircraft and I 'think' by looking at what i've seen and read that this was starboard brake failure. Windshear wouldn't affect a landing 300m in unless it was hurricane force (and still might not cause such a change in direction). Starboard brake failure would cause sudden and tremendous direction change to port and I don't think the pilot (RIP) did this on purpose. Sad news.

[PoorSucker]

Just saw the begging of the ceremonies for the dead captain on channel three.

Father of the pilot was interviewed, (*yes this happens in Thailand)

Of my limited Thai, he said my son died as a hero.

He saved everybody else, not caring for his own life.

[beerchang]

Just saw the begging of the ceremonies for the dead captain on channel three.

Father of the pilot was interviewed, (*yes this happens in Thailand)

Of my limited Thai, he said my son died as a hero.

He saved everybody else, not caring for his own life.

That's what captains do. Part of the job. I aint a small bloke and I aint scared o' no-one, but I stand in awe of these guys who fly people across the globe (yea I know it was only BKK to Samui) who know they might have to sacrifice themselves to save others and stay calm in incredibly stressful situations. Remember the Hudson river landing. Youtube it if you dont. Pilot has lost all power and sounds like he's sittin' on a lawn chair suppin' a beer!! Heroes all.

[animatic]

Ground's just as hard in a no name town as a world capital.

In his last seconds he did what ever he could, that's a hero.

[beerchang]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qKXgG-imh4...feature=related

[beerchang]

Were I a passenger on that plane, i'd've had to dip my ass and the messy contents of my trousers in the icy river before I got rescued f'sure!

As I said, heroes all.

[george]

Update:

SAMUI'S PLANE CRASH

Co-pilot in critical condition

Though stable, he will need two operations; survivors happy with care given

BANGKOK: -- The co-pilot of the ill-fated Bangkok Airways flight to Samui is still in critical condition.

Following the accident at the Samui Airport, Thanawat Premruethai was rushed to a local medical facility before being transferred to the Bangkok Hospital in the capital.

As of press time, he was under close observation in the intensive-care unit. Thanawat has internal bleeding in the abdomen, a bruised right lung, torn liver and several broken bones. Doctors are still waiting for results of his brain scan.

"At this point, his condition is stable but he will likely need an operation in the abdomen and chest," Bangkok Hospital CEO Dr Chatree Duangnet said yesterday.

On Monday, the Bangkok Airways plane skidded off the runway at the Samui Airport and hit an unused control tower.

The accident killed chief pilot Chartchai Pansuwan and injured many people on board, including Thanawat.

"I was shocked when I felt the impact. Then I saw a spark of fire and tried my best to jump out of the emergency exit because I was worried the plane would catch fire," a survivor said on condition of anonymity.

Another survivor, British woman Claire Ballantyne, said good safety measures at the Samui Airport allowed officials to quickly contain the fire before it spread. "Thai officials have taken good care of me," the Briton said.

Bangkok Airways president Puttipong Prasarttong-osoth yesterday visited eight of the injured victims at Bangkok Hospital in Samui.

"Other passengers are now lodged in hotels. A team of medical workers and psychiatrists are there to take care of them," Puttipong said.

He extended his condolences to the victims, their families and friends. "I wish them all a speedy recovery," he said.

Puttipong said his company would provide full assistance to Chartchai's family and Thanawat. An investigation is currently underway to see what caused the accident. The plane's black box will also be checked.

At the Cabinet meeting, Transport Minister Sophon Saram said strong winds that caught the plane while it was landing were the likely cause of the accident.

Samui Airport, which was closed immediately after the accident, re-opened yesterday afternoon with the first flight, PG100, leaving Samui at 2pm and arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3pm.

-- The Nation 2009-08-06

[cdnvic]

Ground's just as hard in a no name town as a world capital.

In his last seconds he did what ever he could, that's a hero.

Amen

Here's hoping the copilot has a quick recovery.

[Grumbles]

It never ceases to amaze me the cra*p the some individuals post here. A plane crashes in bad weather, the pilot is killed, others injured and the "experts" here all have a reason. Claims of "old" turboprops, bad airport, airlines putting money over the safety of passengers and crew are all such nonsense as to laughable. No one has a clue yet as to the cause but that doesn't stop posters here on speculating with most having no experience flying an aircraft. All we know at this point is that the weather was far from ideal, that apparently the plane had landed and was rolled down the runway about 300 meters before leaving the runway and crashing into the old tower. Had it gone off the runway a little earlier or a little later and missed the building perhaps the pilot would not have lost his life. He was apparently an experienced pilot on that particular aircraft. Hopefully the investigation will find the true cause of the accident but for the time being maybe it would just be nice to assume that wind shear caught the plane since there is indication of the weather being a factor. Ever seen the video on youtube of the big jets coming in for landings at some airport in Europe and being thrown all over the place because of the wind? Ever been is a 747 in very rough weather and being bounced all over the sky? Wind is a very very powerful force against a plane. This particular aircraft is certainly subject to a wind gust driving it off the runway, IF that is what happened. I prefer to wait and see what the investigation tells rather than speculate that it was someones fault or that someone was interested in profits more than lives, etc. Get real people!

Well said!!! Let's not judge anyone or anything until the facts are known. After all who wants to look like a complete idiot when the truth comes to light and someone was to find all their conspiracy theories were wrong.

[animatic]

Well one fact is that 3 km or so away the wind was so strong

I got off my big bike and took shelter.

I think it would be a good idea to have 3-6 linked Anemometers on the hills surrounding the airport.

Can't be too expensive, but even 20-40 seconds advcanced warning this time of year

is enough to pull off a landing. It is known to get really windy, really fast here, little warning,

except sky color changes, anything that can tell you something abnormal's coming is a positive.

So if over a set wind-speed is seen by anyone of them it sets up an alert tone.

Giving you, warning, direction and continuous wind data.

Forewarned is forearmed.

Edited August 6, 2009 by animatic

[beerchang]

I long for that perfect scenario animatic, but truth is ,that ol' wind can change in a lot les than 40-20 seconds mate. It can hit you a fraction before the moment your undercarriage touches down. I'm waiting for the official report (hoping TV announces it) . I'm not clear if it was 300 metres before touchdown or 300 metres actually on the runway. Wind shear could produce the accident 300 metres to touch down, but brake failure could produce the resulting accident after 300m of hard braking.

IMO the damage to the aircraft would have been a lot worse if windshear was involved.

RIP pliot and hope the Co-pilot pulls through.