Man Passes Out On Thai Airways Flight

[george]

Dead man’s family seeks THAI response

BANGKOK: -- The family of a medical-school teacher who passed out aboard a Thai Airways International (THAI) flight on Sunday and later died demanded an explanation from the airline yesterday.

Flight TG790, which left Bangkok bound for New York at 1am on Sunday, made an emergency landing in Anchorage, Alaska, after Dr Krirkkrai Hasanee, a business-class passenger, fainted inside a lavatory and failed to regain consciousness.

Krirkkrai was rushed to Providence Hospital in Anchorage. The hospital later informed Krirkkrai’s secretary in New York that he had died.

Kitti Hasanee, younger brother of Krirkkrai, who taught at Saint Mary’s Hospital Medical School in Nakhon Ratchasima, said yesterday that he and other siblings had sent an open letter to THAI demanding an explanation for the death.

Kitti said the hospital had informed the New York-based secretary that Krirkkrai had fainted inside a lavatory and remained in there for hours. Bereaved family members, he explained, wanted to know why flight attendants had not noticed earlier that Krirkkrai had been absent from his seat for a long time.

At press time, The Nation was unable to confirm the cause of death.

“The family would like to know why a business-class customer did not receive closer attention,” said Kitti. He added that family members also demanded an explanation as to why the airline had failed to contact them immediately about Krirkkrai’s death. They learned of the tragedy through the secretary.

He added that Krirkkrai’s luggage had also been abandoned at Anchorage Airport.

--The Nation 2005-06-23

[mnoorsapl]

with this incidence, there surely must come with some procedures to check on the passengers on board. Hope all airlines and air crews, do take note.

[Sphere]

“The family would like to know why a business-class customer did not receive closer attention,” said Kitti.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That would be expecting too much from the 50+ y.o. hags that bestow us their favours in business class.

[Teach]

He added that Krirkkrai’s luggage had also been abandoned at Anchorage Airport.

Another classic example of worth. Even a medical professional is just dumped when the Bt. train stops

T.

[The Coder]

This happened on the new non-stop flight which is the longest flight in the world. Would be interesting to know the air pack settings on this flight as well.

[Kerryd]

He added that Krirkkrai’s luggage had also been abandoned at Anchorage Airport.

Another classic example of worth. Even a medical professional is just dumped when the Bt. train stops

T.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

S.O.P. for most airlines these days. If you aren't on the plane, for any reason, then neither is your luggage. Fewer planes getting blown up that way.

Yes, the guy was on the flight. But the airline can't wait around for an autopsy report to see if the guy croaked of natural causes, or if he suicided (perhaps knowing that his bags may go boom !). They dumped his bags and carried on with the remaining passengers. Thank 9/11 for that (yeah I know, none of those guys killed themselves before the planes hit. But pretty much all aspects of airline security have been increased since then).

Some arrangements would no doubt be made to return that person's belongings, either to his destination or point of departure (by which time they could probably be assured that the luggage isn't about to explode).

At the time of his demise, the airline (and the flight crew) were probably not aware of the passengers profession (have you ever been questioned about what you do for a living, when checking in for a flight ?).

Just because he was a medical professional (found out after the fact), doesn't mean that the whole flight should have been delayed indefinitely.

Imagine how you'd feel if you got stuck in some dreary waiting lounge for 12 or 16 or more hours, because a passenger died, and they decided to make special arrangements just for that person, because they found out (hours later), that he used to be a doctor ?

Meanwhile, people end up missing connections or other important appointments, the airline misses it's schedule and could be held liable for a number of different costs (hotels, rebooking fees, what ever).

As far as I know, there is no requirement for flight attendants to keep a running head-count of the people in their section. No little log books recording who is sitting where for how long, who is spending the most time in the bathroom, who was seen talking to whom.

Remember to, it was the Hospital that said he had passed out in the lavatory and was there for "hours".

That info may have come from someone on the plane, but who ? The flight attendants obviously did realize he was missing from his seat for a long time, otherwise they wouldn't have discovered the body until the plane arrived in NY !

[britmaveric]

Only an autopsy will tell us anything - embolism of smth we don't know about!!!

[george]

No suveillance camera in the lavatory?

[Kerryd]

No suveillance camera in the lavatory?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disconnected it on a flight awhile ago, just in case I got lucky with a stew !

[lampard10]

No suveillance camera in the lavatory?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I &lt;deleted&gt; hope not

[TokyoT]

No suveillance camera in the lavatory?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disconnected it on a flight awhile ago, just in case I got lucky with a stew !

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Would that be Steward or Stewardess?

[britmaveric]

Hmmm vids of taking a dump!!!

Edited June 23, 2005 by britmaveric

[RDN]

...“The family would like to know why a business-class customer did not receive closer attention,” said Kitti....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK for cattle class to die in the bog, but not business class?

[Joey Boy]

No suveillance camera in the lavatory?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

only on JAL

[eljeque]

As the guy was alive when he was let off the plane, the airlines was right in leaving his luggage in Alaska. If they would have sent it on to NY, then there would have been a complaint about it.

I feel sorry for this man and his family, AND being a doctor should have given him some ability to know his own state of health. Did he inform the airlines that he had some problems that might inhibit his ability to fly, or some medication that he should take. There is not a lot that the airlines can do at 35,000 feet over the middle of the Pacific. They did their best by stopping in Alaska instead of continuing the flight to NY.

[Heng]

...“The family would like to know why a business-class customer did not receive closer attention,” said Kitti....

OK for cattle class to die in the bog, but not business class?

Definitely not okay for the econo crowd to croak (but yes, okay for 200 of them to share 8 restrooms)... but I think better service and more attentiveness is expected when one flies business class.

If only we could just close the curtains in everyday life on the ground as well.

[Scott]

I wonder many people's luggage also got left in Anchorage? Now I know how to get my bag -- die.

[george]

We did all we could: THAI

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International insisted yesterday that its crew had done all it could for a passenger who died from a stroke on a flight last weekend to New York.

Relatives of Dr Krirkkrai Hasani had accused stewardesses on TG-490 of not taking care of him properly. They said they heard from Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, that he had been left unconscious in a lavatory for five hours.

THAI spokeswoman Sunatthi Assavapornchai gave a different account.

She said flight attendants heard knocking from inside a toilet and immediately broke the door open to find Krirkkrai. When he did not respond, they alerted the captain, who went on the intercom to ask for help. Three doctors, a nurse and a volunteer stepped forward and diagnosed Krirkkrai as having had a diabetes attack and stroke.

The doctors advised emergency attention, so the captain decided to put down in Anchorage even though all the other passengers would be inconvenienced. Krirkkrai was hospitalised but could not be saved.

The airline, not the hospital as the relatives claimed, had contacted Krirkkrai’s secretary, Jariya Phetngaowilai, to inform his relatives, said THAI.

--The Nation 2005-06-24

[huski]

i just took that thai airways flight to NY and back to BKK. the worst service ever, rude flight attendants...when i started writing down employees names/badge numbers they suddenly changed their attitudes.

Relatives of Dr Krirkkrai Hasani had accused stewardesses on TG-490 of not taking care of him properly. They said they heard from Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, that he had been left unconscious in a lavatory for five hours.

the hospital must have received this information from someone. of course the airline's story is we "heard knocking from inside a toilet and immediately broke the door".

[MrSnrang]

The staff at Thai airways are rude because they are mostly relatives of influential politicians and generals.

[Totster]

The staff at Thai airways are rude because they are mostly relatives of influential politicians and generals.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Really..! And how do you know that...?

totster

[Heng]

Actually I know more than a few people from rather average families who are stewardesses, ground staff, etc. I don't know about the ground crew... but I would think that many flight attendants are grumpy about differences between their expectations ("good" pay, travelling to exotic destinations, looked up to by their peers) and realities (little or no savings because they are often spending money abroad, stuck on the same route for months at a time, looked upon as flying maids) of the job.

[Thaiquila]

I was told this gem by someone in the know (at least US airline rules).

If someone dies on a plane (and it is not really so uncommon) airlines try to arrive at the destination before declaring the person dead. Then the person can be taken off the plane in a stretcher and declared dead on the ramp. This avoids the requirement to impound the plane for several hours for all kinds of high intensity cleaning.

[Sphere]

I was told this gem by someone in the know (at least US airline rules).

If someone dies on a plane (and it is not really so uncommon) airlines try to arrive at the destination before declaring the person dead. Then the person can be taken off the plane in  a stretcher and declared dead on the ramp. This avoids the requirement to impound the plane for several hours for all kinds of high intensity cleaning.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And, I suppose the death certificate states cause of death as "terminal illness".

[purdy]

Thai Air, I will for one never fly with them again!

I am also a Diabetic (insulin dependant). When I got my ticket I ordered a Diabetic meal, as well as at that time I told the staff that I had my insulin pens that I may need on the flight, the staff gave my pens to the air stewardess.

I had one of my shots getting on the plane, but fell asleep soon after take off, at no time was I woken up for my meal, and slept all the way to london, without any attention what-so-ever.

By the time we landed I was very unwell and hypo.

I was taken from the plane by ambulance crew in LHR and then to Hospital.

I made a complaint to Thai Air but as of yet still waiting for a reply, only 5 months now!

[WISteve]

"That would be expecting too much from the 50+ y.o. hags that bestow us their favours in business class."

There is something to the idea that if you're PAYING three times the price as cattle class, you might expect just a bit more personal service? I don't think that is unreasonable to ask.

I just returned to the States from Bangkok a week ago on United, the business class was no more than 1/3 full, and I've never seen such lack of attention or such surly, arrogant flight attendants! And not one of them was under 50 or weighted less than I did (and I'm a little plump frankly). Oh, the skinny gay guy probably did! With perhaps an average of three customers each, that crew was generally nowhere to be found!

Next trip in August it's Eva and from here on in it's ANYBODY but United!

~WISteve

[lullucappy]

Dead man’s family seeks THAI response

BANGKOK: -- The family of a medical-school teacher who passed out aboard a Thai Airways International (THAI) flight on Sunday and later died demanded an explanation from the airline yesterday.

Flight TG790, which left Bangkok bound for New York at 1am on Sunday, made an emergency landing in Anchorage, Alaska, after Dr Krirkkrai Hasanee, a business-class passenger, fainted inside a lavatory and failed to regain consciousness.

Krirkkrai was rushed to Providence Hospital in Anchorage. The hospital later informed Krirkkrai’s secretary in New York that he had died.

Kitti Hasanee, younger brother of Krirkkrai, who taught at Saint Mary’s Hospital Medical School in Nakhon Ratchasima, said yesterday that he and other siblings had sent an open letter to THAI demanding an explanation for the death.

Kitti said the hospital had informed the New York-based secretary that Krirkkrai had fainted inside a lavatory and remained in there for hours. Bereaved family members, he explained, wanted to know why flight attendants had not noticed earlier that Krirkkrai had been absent from his seat for a long time.

At press time, The Nation was unable to confirm the cause of death.

“The family would like to know why a business-class customer did not receive closer attention,” said Kitti. He added that family members also demanded an explanation as to why the airline had failed to contact them immediately about Krirkkrai’s death. They learned of the tragedy through the secretary.

He added that Krirkkrai’s luggage had also been abandoned at Anchorage Airport.

--The Nation 2005-06-23

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>