Airplane Accident In Lao Pdr

[mgreijm]

Today a small airplane in Houaphanh province (northeast Laos) crashed. More news is expected soon. Some photos are available, if I can figure out where to put then.

Reason to put this message here is that Lao government never lets bad news out of the country

[Chao Lao Beach]

Right click on the target image and copy the image URL

Then come here, click on the blank post area below.

2 lines of icons will pop up, in the middle of line is a little square Image, click on that.

Paste the URL and press post.

or just paste a link to the images.

[lovelaos]

Hope the OP comes back with the pics.

[Tomtomtom69]

Who was the aircraft operated by? No matter what you claim the Lao authorities would or wouldn't do, there is no way this aircraft was operated by Lao airlines or another major airline as I haven't heard about a crash relating to a major commercial airline in Laos recently and since every flight would have foreigners on board on every route, it's impossible that a crash of a commercial airliner would be hushed up the authorities.

[rogerdee123]

According to front page news in Vientiane Times (19 April) ... "A Twin Otter Aircraft owned by Lao Air crashed shortly after takeoff from Nathong airport in Huaphan Province on Wednesday after failing to clear the end of the runway ....... etc etc "

the article goes on to say no one was killed but .... " five people sustained chest injuries of varying degrees and were taken to the hospital ... etc etc"

read the article and see a pic here :-

http://laovoices.com/lao-air-plane-crashes-on-takeoff-in-huaphan/

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Or, read it here in the Vientiane Times. Finally gone public.

Mac

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Lao_air.htm

Lao Air plane crashes on takeoff in Huaphan

A Twin Otter aircraft owned by Lao Air crashed shortly after takeoff from Nathong Airport in Huaphan province on Wednesday after failing to clear the end of the runway at the short rural airstrip.

The accident happened at 2:35 pm when the aircraft attempted to take off en route for Vientiane. Witnesses said it appeared that the 19-seat plane clipped the top of some trees before crashing into a canal about 200 metres from the end of the runway.

Fortunately, no one was killed in the accident, but five people sustained chest injuries of varying degrees and were taken to hospital while the plane sustained considerable damage.

The Twin Otter aircraft after it crashed in Huaphan province. --Photo Misa Phomvongsa

Managing Director of Lao Air State Enterprise Colonel Bounma Chanthavongsa told Vientiane Times the following day “We're not sure what caused the crash because we are still investigating.”

The plane was carrying 16 passengers at the time of the accident. Mr Bounma said five people were sent for X-rays at the Friendship Hospital in Vientiane after sustaining chest injuries.

The other 11 passengers sustained minor injuries but did not feel they were in need of hospital treatment. However, Lao Air requested they all go to hospital to be checked out, with the company insisting it would foot any medical bills, Colonel Bounma explained.

In 2009, another slightly larger plane owned by Lao Air had to make an emergency landing in a rice field in Huaphan after encountering mechanical difficulties shortly after take-off.

However, due to modern aircraft standards and the pilot's skill, no one was injured on this occasion and the aircraft did not sustain any damage, according to the company.

Nathong Airport in Huaphan province is quite small and technical standards are low. Unfortunately, this airport cannot be expanded to accommodate larger aircraft due to the mountainous terrain so only smaller aircraft are capable of landing there.

There are only a few flights between Vientiane and Huaphan, but the sector is popular because it takes just over an hour from Huaphan to Vientiane.

In comparison the bus journey is long and arduous. Tourists and local residents don't like to travel by bus because it takes up to two days depending on conditions.

Vientiane residents who go to Huaphan by road joke that they don't want to return home once they arrive because they are afraid of getting headaches and car sickness again, after enduring the long and bumpy journey.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao

(Latest Update April 19, 2013)

Vientiane Times Pangkham Rd, P.O.Box: 5723 Vientiane, Lao PDR

Tel: (856-21) 216364, 251619; Fax: (856-21) 216365;

Email: [email protected]

Copyright © 1999 Vientiane Times Newspaper.