N. Korea Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing At Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport

[Trouble]

"We need some time to investigate. We cannot just draw conclusions from information we received verbally," he said.

Thailand has to abide by international law, as it is a signatory to the international treaty on weapons transportation.

Unless the weapons were delivered in full compliance with international law, they would be destroyed, Panitan said.

"Transportation of weapons is rare these days. Doing so requires proper declaration and reporting," he said.

As much as I think the trade of weapons only leads to human suffering. We seem to have quite a double standard in this world. Seems alright for any of the super power governments to deliver weapons anywhere to any group of people including those trying to overthrow their government thus supporting revolution (weather right or wrong) when it seems in our interest. The US, Britain, France, and Russia all have supplied weapons to African nations, Latin American nations which have cost thousands of lives. Look at the problems in Africa because of weapons supplied by the West. But hey, don't let North Korea do the same thing. The thinking of the West with regard to the "axis of evil" (North Korea and Iran) is foolish. Why does "international law" and the UN work against countries like North Korea and Iran when Britain, France, Russia, China and the US exempt from compliance with their veto power in the Security Council?

Nuclear weapons technology is going to eventually reach nations which should not have it. North Korea and Iran have the technology and the attempt by the West to stop them is wasted energy and will not work. Rather it would be better to bring these countries into the world of nations and engage them. However what Obama and other western leaders should tell the leaders of Iran and North Korea is that if one of their weapons ever are used to strike a western country the West will obliterate them and make their countries wasteland. After all why wouldn't Iran in particular want nuclear weapons. The US invaded Iraq and Afganistan didn't it. Israel has nuclear weapons doesn't it. If I was Iran I guess I would want to develop a standoff too. Only makes sense from their point of view. The Middle East policy of the US has been a mess for over 30 years. Does anyone expect it to change?

So this story is basically about a group of arms dealers no doubt trying to make a couple of million dollars. They will bring misery to many for greed while the Western countries seem to do the same thing for so-called "national interest" which has only made the world the mess it is today.

Edited December 12, 2009 by Trouble

[Maestro]

… Code number 4L-AWA - identified to an 'entity' in Kazakhstan…

Not that it probably matters much but I thought the country code 4L in aircraft registration means Georgia:

http://www.airlinecodes.co.uk/reglinks.asp?type=Unofficial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_registration

Four of the crew are said to be from Kazakhstan. Television news reports said the plane was from Ukraine, but later reports said the flight started in North Korea. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayankorn said The captain and crew were from Georgia and Belarus.

The entity owning the aircraft can of course still be domiciled in Kasakhstan, or anywhere else in the world. Apparently no information about the ownership available on the Internet.

--

Maestro

[AleG]

From the photo that's an Ilushin Il-76 alright. Probably the Il-76M version since it has a tail gunner (!!!) cockpit on the tail.

As someone mentioned, that plane doesn't have the range to fly past Thailand from North Korea, so my guess would be that it was either destined to Myanmar or it was meant to stop to refuel there before carrying on to somewhere farther away.

Perhaps they were hoping the plane could make it directly or were expecting to have the Thai airport staff not notice or look the other way (post incentive) about the cargo.

Whatever the case it's well known North Korea sells weapons to whoever pays for them and shoddy air freight companies are not hard to find in the ex-soviet republics.

[nonghoidave]

Going to Pak? OR Afgan?

Coming FROM Ukraine, going TO North Korea.

Why does everyone assume North Korea would have ANYTHING to do with America's illegal invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, or their illegal and immoral drone attacks on their "Ally" Pakistan???

Munitions shipments happen EVERY DAY, EVERY HOUR, EVERYWHERE. So one flight had mechanical malfunction: LET'S PANIC!!!!!

Just because the idiot George W. Bush labeled North Korea as part of an "axis of evil"?? Word: Bush was "projecting" his own designs on others.

Thailand should have simply repaired the problem, made some fees, and sent them on their way. Instead, it gets blown up as some sort of "crisis"...sheeesh.

Signed: embarrassed and fed up American

[hawksway]

Even a Boeing 707 200C can carry 35 tonnes payload but with a considerable fuel penalty. Was it really a North Korean plane?

Ukraine has a massive arms industry but the case is shrouded in mystery and in a day or so the reported story may change quite a lot. Why would an aircraft from the Ukraine fly so far South as to need to land in Bangkok when so many of Thailand's Neigbours would be in the same range limit? Only Indonesia and Malaysia would present a problem.

[Publicus]

Going to Pak? OR Afgan?

or maybe to your country...

Its so funny how some people so ignorant of the political situations around the world...

Afghanistan was infested by US weapons in 80's during so called war against communism. Bin Laden was Fighter of the Year by Times magazine coz he was fighting against USSR with US weapons.

They created a monster and now they cant control it and ignorant people like you pointing fingers towards other countries who are fighting a useless war of US in Afghanistan...

Only if US never attacked Afghanistan, world would have been much better place now... Thanks to new-cons...

The US has been mentioned prominently in this thread so it's fair to point out that al Quada, the base, had its base in Afghanistan under the auspices of the Taliban government which was not recognized by the UN as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Only if the Soviets had never attacked Afghanistan........only if the Soviets hadn't lost in Afghanistan.......... only if the Taliban hadn't seized central power in Afghanistan........only if bin Laden had worshiped his wealthy father and the wealthy family's lifestyle.......only if the Brits in the 19th century had made Afghanistan a colony after whipping the arse of the Afghanistanis........only if so much of Muslim civilization in the Mid East and South and Central Asia weren't still living in the 12th century..........only if......only if..........only if...............only if the World Trade Towers hadn't been built. Only if.

Get real.

Both bin Laden and you say Americans are ignorant. bin Laden is a pathological mass murderer who slaughters in the name of god. You two should have tea together to discuss your common and divergent views, then report back.

[Publicus]

Going to Pak? OR Afgan?

Coming FROM Ukraine, going TO North Korea.

Why does everyone assume North Korea would have ANYTHING to do with America's illegal invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, or their illegal and immoral drone attacks on their "Ally" Pakistan???

Munitions shipments happen EVERY DAY, EVERY HOUR, EVERYWHERE. So one flight had mechanical malfunction: LET'S PANIC!!!!!

Just because the idiot George W. Bush labeled North Korea as part of an "axis of evil"?? Word: Bush was "projecting" his own designs on others.

Thailand should have simply repaired the problem, made some fees, and sent them on their way. Instead, it gets blown up as some sort of "crisis"...sheeesh.

Signed: embarrassed and fed up American

Pakistan is no one's ally.

Pakistan is strictly up for sale to the highest bidder to include providing nuclear knowhow to N Korea and its intelligence agency supporting the Taliban from its beginnings. Our government just sent another package of bucks to the corrupt and immoral Pakistani government to the tune of $7bn. To paraphrase Churchill on Soviet Russia, Pakistan is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. The Pakistan government is bizantine, not knowing what its other parts are doing. 

Yes, there's no question there are worse places than messy and contradictory ol' Thailand. 

[Golden Nugget]

small detail being overlooked: Thai police now have 35 tons of weapons.

So what was the original load? You know the brown boys always get their fair share...

[Golden Nugget]

As a holder of a commercial pilots license I can promise that international flights don't run out of fuel, except for one 737 where the refueler got the metric system confused and it glided from 30,000ft unbelievably to a safe landing.

This whole thread is a comedy, love it

George Bush was on board performing fuzzy math he learned at Yale. (lol, couldn't resist)

[garyh]

As a holder of a commercial pilots license I can promise that international flights don't run out of fuel, except for one 737 where the refueler got the metric system confused and it glided from 30,000ft unbelievably to a safe landing.

This whole thread is a comedy, love it

George Bush was on board performing fuzzy math he learned at Yale. (lol, couldn't resist)

Hopefully his maths skills are better than his language skills.

[Scott]

Publicus: Thanks for the information on North Korean Refugees in Thailand. I think our discussion is a little off-topic, your point appears to be that Thailand allows them onward travel. Mine is that it doesn't provide them with Refugee Status, per se. Thailand's record in the treatment of North Koreans is spotty, however, they are to be commended for allowing them to get to South Korea and other destinations, regardless of granting some official status or not.

You don't need to provide links, especially if you are in PRC and it's a major challenge to do so.

Thanks for the effort.

[retiredusn]

Shit if this is news and we read it! we all need to get a life...........

[brahmburgers]

Interesting thread, I read it all thus far. Let's not forget, weapons are designed to destroy and kill. So though we can get some chuckles in margins, there are repercussions (concussions) further on down the road.

US military alerted the Thais of the overflight. Thai pilots scrambled and forced the plane to land. The 'ran out of fuel' is probably cover story.

First reports said the plane came from one of the '...stans' or Ukraine. All along it said it was a N.Korean plane, yet even that's not for sure. Now reports are saying it came from N.Korea. Where was it headed? Could have been Burma (one of N.Korea's few chums), Pakistani insurgents, Africa from A to Z, or.....? Heck, no one mentioned Somali pirates yet. They've been raking in millions of dollars these past months, so why wouldn't they want to invest in their hyper growth industry of ransoming ships and white skinned people - based in a country with no police.

Going to Pak? OR Afgan?

or maybe to your country...

Its so funny how some people so ignorant of the political situations around the world...

Afghanistan was infested by US weapons in 80's during so called war against communism. Bin Laden was Fighter of the Year by Times magazine coz he was fighting against USSR with US weapons.

They created a monster and now they cant control it and ignorant people like you pointing fingers towards other countries who are fighting a useless war of US in Afghanistan... Only if US never attacked Afghanistan, world would have been much better place now... Thanks to new-cons...

The US had to attack Afghanistan and had a very good reason to do so, along with the Brits and their other grouping of usual friends. In case you forgot, the ruling thugs in Afg were harboring people that were actively attacking the US. Former president Clinton had an opp to blow up an Al Qaeda hq there with Bin Laden in residence (before 9-11), but he was advised that there were women and kids at that camp, so he desisted. He rues that decision, no doubt.

Afghanistan has always been and will continue to be a rather miserable place, even in its best times. Every conquerer since Alexander who went through there has regretted it. Whether the US and its allies leave now or later, it's going to sink back to Sharia law administered by sadist men, so it's pretty much a lose lose part of the world where trees don't grow and water doesn't flow.

Edited December 13, 2009 by brahmburgers

[ericthai]

why was it flying in Thailand you ask? does everyone already forgot that there is an insurgency STILL GOING ON down south and that some influential and rich people, like the one hiding in Dubai, would greatly benefit from the current government not being able do do anything about it (for political and business reasons).

just my way of seeing things from another perspective .....

Who is hiding in Dubai?

If you are referring to Taksin, last I read he is in Cambodia working for the goverment.

Dont see him suppling insurgents in the south as it would not make any difference. The insurgency in the south as been going on forever, even when he was in power and long before this. Also they are not going to take up arms and start fighting, they will keep on doing the hit and run tactics they have been doing this is the most effective way for them to operate when in small numbers.

As for the aircraft running out of fuel, I would assume they either had an issue with equipment or they miscalculated the weight which would affect their fuel consumption. You would think they know they are getting low on fuel much sooner and would have tried to land in Cambodia or Burma who I would think would be much more likely to allow this to slip by.

Need to wait for more info.

[webfact]

Weapons seized

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Published on December 13, 2009

Huge weapons shipment found aboard plane seeking refuelling stop en route from N Korea to undisclosed location; E European crew held, as cargo declared as military spare parts

More than 35 tonnes of weapons aboard a Russian-made IL76 cargo plane were impounded yesterday after it stopped over at Don Mueang Airport for refuelling.

A joint Air Force and police unit searched the aircraft, whose final destination remained unknown, and found military hardware including missile heads, rocket-propelled grenades and surface-to-air missile launchers.

The authorities grounded the plane and also took custody of the five crew on-board, who reportedly came from Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The plane, with code number 4L-AWA, was identified as belonging to an entity in Kazakhstan.

It flew from Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, and asked for permission to land to refuel in Bangkok.

Official sources said large metal and wooden crates containing the weapons with a weight of 35-40 tonnes were found in the aircraft.

The pilots and crew were held for questioning. The weapons had been declared as military spare parts.

The weapons were transported from Don Mueang Airport to the Air Force's weapon storage depot in Nakhon Sawan's Takhli district for safe keeping.

Initially, police investigators were told by the crew that the aircraft had stopped over in Bangkok last Friday on its way to North Korea.

All five crew and pilots were charged with breaking Thailand's air traffic law as the plane carried weapons under a false declaration.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he expected more details on the incident in the next few days.

This has nothing to do with the country's national security, he insisted.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, acting government spokesman, said the aircraft was understood to have been registered in an Eastern European country, but he declined to be more specific.

Panitan, an international security expert, also declined to speculate on the aircraft's final destination or its route, saying the sensitive information had yet to be confirmed.

"We need some time to investigate. We cannot just draw conclusions from information we received verbally," he said.

Thailand has to abide by international law, as it is a signatory to the international treaty on weapons transportation.

Unless the weapons were delivered in full compliance with international law, they would be destroyed, Panitan said.

"Transportation of weapons is rare these days. Doing so requires proper declaration and reporting," he said.

However, Panitan - also the PM's deputy secretary-general - declined to comment on whether the incident posed any threat to national security.

-- The Nation 2009/12/13

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[ericthai]

Going to Pak? OR Afgan?

Coming FROM Ukraine, going TO North Korea.

Why does everyone assume North Korea would have ANYTHING to do with America's illegal invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, or their illegal and immoral drone attacks on their "Ally" Pakistan???

Munitions shipments happen EVERY DAY, EVERY HOUR, EVERYWHERE. So one flight had mechanical malfunction: LET'S PANIC!!!!!

Just because the idiot George W. Bush labeled North Korea as part of an "axis of evil"?? Word: Bush was "projecting" his own designs on others.

Thailand should have simply repaired the problem, made some fees, and sent them on their way. Instead, it gets blown up as some sort of "crisis"...sheeesh.

Signed: embarrassed and fed up American

Oh this is good logic, so I guess Thailand and all other countries should just ignore UN rules. Thailand does the right thing and you complain. Yes, weapons are being shipped all the time, but if you can stop one it's not worth it?

You are right keep your head in the sand.

[mld532]

Is that a lot? 35 tonnes?? Sounds like it.

Um, yeah, you could say that.

It's approximately 9,200 AK47 rifles (no ammunition).

Or it's about 13,400 RPG rounds (single stage HEAT - 2.6kg each) (no launchers).

Or it's about 5,000 light machine guns ...

Or a combination of various bits and pieces. Enough to outfit a few hundred soldiers perhaps ...

Um, yeah....

Did you Google the weight ratios, (as they are wrong ), or do you have previous experience with weaponry, (doubt it ).

Hey! Maybe you are Viktor Bout online from the Big Tiger?? LOL

Seriously though, where the heck did you come up with these fantasy fugures?

LOL.

[selftaopath]

.....the matter was now under the supervision of the Thai police.....

That's the weapons sold off then!!!

LOLOL - - the matter was now under the supervision of the Thai police who would provide further details later Saturday.

That' "rich" or should I say BIB will be. Biggest payday this month eh? LOL ah BIB - really funny.

[moskito]

… Code number 4L-AWA - identified to an 'entity' in Kazakhstan…

Not that it probably matters much but I thought the country code 4L in aircraft registration means Georgia:

http://www.airlinecodes.co.uk/reglinks.asp?type=Unofficial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_registration

Four of the crew are said to be from Kazakhstan. Television news reports said the plane was from Ukraine, but later reports said the flight started in North Korea. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayankorn said The captain and crew were from Georgia and Belarus.

The entity owning the aircraft can of course still be domiciled in Kasakhstan, or anywhere else in the world. Apparently no information about the ownership available on the Internet.

--

Maestro

.....and not every ship sailing under Panama flag delivers supplies from Panama

before MAESTRO delete my post again, maybe he will explain to us if it is common to check the cargo of every plane asking for an emergency landing.

Or my post was just deleted because I asked for the CIA ?

[BangkokJazz]

Interesting story, but only serves as a warning that arms are easily assessible, and we should do everything we can to stay safe.

[Rodders3000]

.....the matter was now under the supervision of the Thai police.....

That's the weapons sold off then!!!

Yeah, they'll sell em quicker than anyone else can!

There's a rumour going round they're opening a special stall on the market here in Hua Hin... anyone know anything more about that?

[exalll]

As a holder of a commercial pilots license I can promise that international flights don't run out of fuel, except for one 737 where the refueler got the metric system confused and it glided from 30,000ft unbelievably to a safe landing.

Actually, I don't think the "Gimli Glider" was an international flight. Montreal-Edmonton, I believe. Sorry to be pedantic!

[tartempion]

As a holder of a commercial pilots license I can promise that international flights don't run out of fuel, except for one 737 where the refueler got the metric system confused and it glided from 30,000ft unbelievably to a safe landing.

This whole thread is a comedy, love it

You should know better:: 2

Any way, there are many reasons why aircrafts are diverted.

Furthermore it's incredible how those who know nothing on TV get exited about peanuts.

On August 24, 2001, Air Transat Flight 236, an Airbus A330, en route from Toronto to Lisbon with 306 crew and passengers, made an emergency landing in the Azores without engine power due to fuel starvation over the Atlantic Ocean.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat#cite_note-5gust 2001

Airline: Ai

The aircraft [C-GITS] was on a flight from Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Lisbon Portugal when a problem developed with the fuel system approximately 300nm northeast of Terciera Island, Azores Islands, Portugal. The crew elected to divert to Terciera Island for an emergency landing. The Captain reported that approximately 100nm from the airport, the left engine failed, and some ten minutes later, the right engine failed as well. The aircraft, using a minimal amount of hydraulic and electrical power supplied from its Ram Air Turbine, continued gliding toward Terciera Island in a gradual descent. The Captain reported that the flight arrived over Terciera Island at FL150 (15,000 feet), at dawn, and so he elected to make a visual approach to the airport with no engine power.

The total flying time without engine power was in the neighborhood of 17 to 18 minutes. The aircraft sustained minor damage during the landing, including damage to the landing gear as twelve tires exploded upon touchdown.

Initial reports indicate that a fuel line that had been replaced several days before became severed, leading to a fuel leak of approximately 37,000 gallons over the Atlantic Ocean.

[jensonmcm]

Interesting story, but only serves as a warning that arms are easily assessible, and we should do everything we can to stay safe.

Like 'don't live in America' for example.

[ableguy]

Is that a lot? 35 tonnes?? Sounds like it.

more than 25 tons

[grantbkk]

Of course the public reading Thai Visa and posting speculation makes for interesting reading. I don't think anyone has guessed the full story or impact of this one aircraft that happened to come down in Bangkok. I did see some footage of some air force generals and senior police commanders doing the makarina when they thought the cameras were pointing the other way.

The weapons will never be allowed to leave Thailand and the owner of the plane will have to pay a hefty sum to ever have a chance of having it returned. This is a win-win for everyone not connected with the load. A relatively small shipment of war weapons falls into the laps of the Thai police and military. I see big $$$$$$$$$$$$ for everyone even if the Thai government was acting on information from another country. This is almost enough for the Thai's to start believing in Santa Clause.

[asiawatcher]

Why the detour so south to us?

Yes, I also wonder. It does not seem Thailand is on the way between Ukraine and North Korea.

If you are travelling incognito it is!

[asiawatcher]

Of course the public reading Thai Visa and posting speculation makes for interesting reading. I don't think anyone has guessed the full story or impact of this one aircraft that happened to come down in Bangkok. I did see some footage of some air force generals and senior police commanders doing the makarina when they thought the cameras were pointing the other way.

The weapons will never be allowed to leave Thailand and the owner of the plane will have to pay a hefty sum to ever have a chance of having it returned. This is a win-win for everyone not connected with the load. A relatively small shipment of war weapons falls into the laps of the Thai police and military. I see big $$$$$$$$$$$$ for everyone even if the Thai government was acting on information from another country. This is almost enough for the Thai's to start believing in Santa Clause.

One things for sure - The Thai's are not going to destroy the weapons!!! Plane - yeah - ransom - crew? Who cares.... Their source countries tell me enough. Let them stay a while in the Bangkok Hilton - good enough for shoplifters so must good enough for gun runners.

[ableguy]

Going to Pak? OR Afgan?

Coming FROM Ukraine, going TO North Korea.

Why does everyone assume North Korea would have ANYTHING to do with America's illegal invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, or their illegal and immoral drone attacks on their "Ally" Pakistan???

Munitions shipments happen EVERY DAY, EVERY HOUR, EVERYWHERE. So one flight had mechanical malfunction: LET'S PANIC!!!!!

Just because the idiot George W. Bush labeled North Korea as part of an "axis of evil"?? Word: Bush was "projecting" his own designs on others.

Thailand should have simply repaired the problem, made some fees, and sent them on their way. Instead, it gets blown up as some sort of "crisis"...sheeesh.

Signed: embarrassed and fed up American

If you are so embarrassed and fed up of Thailand and USA go and live in North Korea among all its happy free people, its perfect form of government, there is a small problem of course if you made this form of rabid comment there you would be shot.

[anon789]

"VG", the biggest newspaper in Norway, is reporting that according to sources in the Thai Airforce the intended final destination of the plane was, most likely, Pakistan.