Recent Transport Disasters Blamed On Spirits
by Warawita Yaemsuda, Teeranai Charuvastra

BANGKOK: -- Supernatural powers are cited as the factors behind recent high-profile accidents in Thailand, namely the botched landing of a Thai Airways plane at Bangkok′s main airport earlier this week.

14 people were injured during the evacuation from the Airbus A330-300 which skid off the runway of Suvarnabhumi Airport on 9 September.

While initial investigation pointed to a malfunctioned landing gear (the officials have not yet finished their inquiry), the Managing Director of Thai Aiways, Mr. Sorajak Kasemsuvan, is not taking chances. He said his company will conduct a major ceremony to appease the malevolent spirits said to be haunting the airport.

He is quoted as saying that the ceremony will also thank the said spirits for assisting with the successful operation to salvage the plane from the runway.

Mr. Sorajak′s comment followed a series of coverage by Thai Rath, the best-selling newspaper in Thailand, which gave extensive attention to the supposed involvement of ghosts and spirits in the accident.

Previously, Thai Rath has reported that a ghost in "traditional costume" (which strangely resembles the outfit Thai Airways flight attendants wear) has helped evacuate the passengers from the aircraft shortly after it slid off the runway.

The newspaper has also quoted Mr. Chotisak Asapaviriya, a former director of Airports Authority of Thailand (AOT), as saying that he had organised a regular prayer session to placate the vengeful spirits which reside in the airport vicinity.

At the ceremony to unveil the airport in 2006, Mr. Chotisak told Thai Rath, an official in charge of searching for explosive materials had broken down into a trance, claiming that he was being possessed by a "grandfather ghost" who demanded a shrine to be built on the airport compound. The shrine was quickly built afterwards.

Thai Rath helpfully points out that 8 major shrines have been built around Suvarnabhumi Airport by the staff in order to ward off evil spirits, such as a shrine dedicated to the Naga (holy big snake in Buddhist myths) which is presumably angered by construction of the airport on what was once a swamp inhabited by snakes.

Other smaller shrines include a strangely named "Italian Shrine".

The newspaper cited the curses of the residing ghosts as the main reason the construction of the airport had been delayed for decades. The more rational Thais, however, would point to mire of corruption that has plagued the project before the government of Thaksin Shinawatra finalised the project in late 2005.

Dr. Smith Thammasaroj, former director of Suvarnnabhumi Airport, told Thai Rath he was convinced of the existence of supernatural entities around the airport even though, he admitted, he had never encountered any particular case personally.

The scientist who once headed Thailand′s Meteorological Department said he had invited so many psychics to conduct ceremonies and constructed so many shrines "that I can′t keep count".

"We even had to build a condominium for the ghosts to reside," Dr. Smith said, "Because the spirits are so many individual spirit houses won′t be enough".

However, there has been few secular responses to the accident at Suvarnabhumi Airport on 9 September, too. Sqn.Ldr. Sitha Tiwaree, Managing Director AOT, said the authority has conducted an Emergency Plan Rehearsal, in which the airport′s fire and rescue departments took part.

The accident involving the Airbus was the most severe case at the airport since its opening 7 years ago, he said.

Sqn.Ldr. Sitha stressed that the incident will be analysed for future adjustment of the Emergency Plan, particularly how to transport passengers to the airport building - the procedure that received several complaints on 9 September. The rehearsal also pointed out that the airline crew was not familiar with the runway, causing complications during the latest accident, the director noted.

In long term, he said, the airport plans to build another substitute runway, in order to sustain further service. The AOT board will meet on Tuesday, 17 September to discuss about the construction budget, according to Sqn.Ldr. Sitha.

But it seems the spirits do not only roam the sky.

After a train headed from Malaysia to Bangkok′s Hua Lamphong Station derailed in the capital city yesterday, Daily News, the second best selling newspaper of the kingdom, reported that a certain curse might be involved.

According to Daily News, a painting at Hua Lamphong depicted a small obstacle in the rail track, which perfectly explains the frequent derailments - more than 15 incidents this year alone.

Even Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthipan, best known for his hands-on approach in inspecting problems of public transports, is mulling a paranormal hands-on solution. He has reportedly ordered the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to consider a plan to organise a merit-making ceremony for the sake of his Ministry.

During the past few months, Mr. Chatchart noted, the country has suffered from many transport accidents such as minivan crashes, train derailments, boat crashes, and the Thai Airways incident.

"There have been more deaths than usual. Many have suggested that the Ministry of Transport needs a large-scale merit-making ceremony" Mr. Chatchart said.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM09URTNNelUwTUE9PQ==&sectionid=TURVd01BPT0=

--KHAOSOD English 2013-09-15

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Hmmmm...let's see. So if there are a lot of transportation accidents occurring, instead of instituting

safety measures to protect tourists, time for a merit making ceremony to ward off evil spirits......

Not sure if this is funny or sad.

Funny - but dangerous thinking too, if taken remotely seriously. For the same reason that taxi drivers who dangle garlands and amulets around their rear view mirrors (to the point that forward vision is restricted), but don't bother with a safety belt, are dangerous.

What a compete load of superstitious, nonsensical <deleted>

Third world, and always will be! The only spirits Thai concerned with, come out of a bottle. Another reason for deaths on the road!

the curse's name is maintenance and his accomplish is safety

they do what they like with the spirit realm it's their thing to deal with it in their way , as long as they also put effort in a more earthlike solution

The jokes by Thailand's CEO's getting better day by day!

It's true. I know those spirits personally. One of them is named Jack Daniels.

Wow, can you imagine how this would appear if it were covered in any major publication in the West? With the world's media paying attention to Thai Airways right now I imagine consulting with your PR department should happen before consulting with spirit mediums.

What next hanging garlands from the engines and wings of all Thai planes

And just to think Thailand wants the rest of the world to take them seriously.

Oh please, Do they know how ridiculous this sounds to the world and they look like complete loony tunes. Shut up with this facing saving bullshite and stop blaming it on ghosts and spirits. Elvis came down and dragged me out of my seat I tried to stop him but we had already hot the tarmac.

.

Will the 'jet-set monk on the run' conduct the ceremony?

Previously, Thai Rath has reported that a ghost in "traditional costume" (which strangely resembles the outfit Thai Airways flight attendants wear) has helped evacuate the passengers from the aircraft shortly after it slid off the runway.

Must have been an air ghostess!

Sacrificial burning of those spouting this nonsense to be replaced with folk who have some knowledge of how things work in the real world would go along way to sorting this out.

It sounds bizarre, but as a Kiwi I'm used to this sort of spirit thing. The Maori in NZ dominate all aspects of life relating to their spirituality. If a new public building is built, the Maori must bless it and scare away the evil spirits. Recently a helicopter pilot got fined for hovering over a mountain and apparently causing massive cultural dramas because the mountain was sacred to the Maori. I could go on and on.

So whilst the Thai may sound a bit third worldly in regard to their respect/fear of the spirits, look at first world NZ where the native culture is all pervasive and the entire country has to kow-tow to their beliefs.

In relation to the airplane accident, some of you might be interested in the following news item: http://jansaviation.com/news.php?art=crash-landing-in-bangkok

Nothing about nose wheel failing.

AOT, Thai Airlines and other government officials put their name to this fiasco. Simply unbelievable .

Now is the time to PANIC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=o7dp9OSqpdU

If they really believe it works, they should make an announcement as such, on all landing flights. That should easy the nerves of all arriving passengers.

I guess this is the part of Thainess I don't understand - not taking personal responsibility at all costs. Someone's head should roll after that that incident at the airport.

EWopen posted

Hmmmm...let's see. So if there are a lot of transportation accidents occurring, instead of instituting

safety measures to protect tourists, time for a merit making ceremony to ward off evil spirits......

Not sure if this is funny or sad.

Sad because its just another way to dodge responsibility and actually do something substantive, like better maintenance, but no were goling to blame it on spirits and skate

blamed it on spirits? more like alcohol spirits....

What a compete load of superstitious, nonsensical <deleted>

and this is the guy running the whole show....?!

Can you imagine in the worst scenario that the Thais would make these claims publicly and the press would cover it in detail? Preposterous notion and the outside world knows it.

It really is time for Thailand to move on. I mean, c'mon guys <deleted>!

I have no problem with the Monks and others doing their spiritual, religious thing. I do have a problem when the people who are actually supposed to use science, engineering and reasoning rely on this stuff.

Very scary; light 3 incense sticks and then drive a van at 140 Km/hr.

:blink:building a ghost condo....I'm speechless. Seriously? A ghost condo? They actually build a condo for all the spirits? I know it's nothing like condos for human, but to actually even mention it to the press....a condo for spirit?

Sent from my GT-I9200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Transport disasters blamed on spirits (supernatural kind)....load of BS to me.

The only "spirits" assisting these disasters are of the alcoholic type IMO.

At least i now know who NOT to fly with any more!!!