THAI Urged To Maintain Passenger Safety Standards

[george]

THAI urged to maintain passenger safety standards

BANGKOK: -- The family of a Thai Airways captain killed in a crash in 1998 today called on the national flag carrier to maintain passenger safety standards, while repeating denials of the airline's claim that the accident in the country's southern Surat Thani Province had been caused by pilot error.

The pilot's daughters, who are among family members suing the airline for Bt130.5 million, spoke to TNA reporter today of the family's continuing sorrow at the loss of their father and the anger they felt over the continuing blame that was heaped on the head of the deceased captain by the families of the 101 people who died in the incident.

The Airbus A310-200, en route from Bangkok to Surat Thani, crashed in a swamp on its third landing attempt at its destination airport in December 1998.

Although 45 passengers miraculously survived, 101 passengers and crew members were killed.

After the incident, the airline blamed Capt. Pinit Vetchsilp, whose daughters Miss Ratchaneewan and Miss Wannit Vetchsilp opened their hearts to reporters today.

The daughters, who claim that the incident was caused by poor aircraft maintenance, said that the condemnation from relatives of those killed had been so severe that the location for their father's funeral had been changed at the last minute to avoid disruption.

According to the two daughters, the airline had failed to maintain the decade-old plane, which had previously been reported with technical problems. The family are suing THAI for violating individual rights, defamation, loss of income and psychological damage.

Miss Ratchaneewan warned that airline that even if it won the civil suit, it should pay more attention to passenger safety standards in order to prevent future accidents.

--TNA 2005-06-02