Recent Transport Disasters Blamed On Spirits

[GentlemanJim]

Well, there is always something or someone can take my breath away when I read Thai Visa every day but this is a first. My wife just came in to the kitchen area to hear me chewing on my museli and banana saying out loud 'Unbelievable, totally frakking unbelievable'.

I really am in total disbelief that the Managing Director of an international airline, a flag carrier no less is issuing a public statement of this magnitude. Thai Airways has today, taken the heat of every other airline in the world because they have just become the laughing stock of aviation the world over. Perhaps their new strap line should be 'Thai Airways - Taking you to new heights'. New heights of folly and hilarity that is.

I am sure that the FAA and EASA will be overjoyed that the aircraft flying into it's airspace from Thailand have been the subject of the additional maintenance procedure of spirit appeasing. I do hope that mention of this countermeasure will be placed on the final inspection report of the 'botched' landing at swampy. The heads of FAA and EASA should both ban Thai Airways aircraft from their airspace with immediate effect until a complete clarification has taken place of the stance of the airline and in particular it's senior management, some positions (appointments) I might add which are required to meet approval of domestic CAA's.

To know of the poverty round that airport and to learn that they have a condo, built for the spirits is too much. I can just imagine the comments of every crew that land at swampy from now on. The pilots in the front will be taking the piss relentlessly.

Where was I, oh yes, I am turning blue as my breath has been taken away, I need to breath and my fingers cannot type fast enough to convey my thoughts. Time to breath and finish my museli.

[FangFerang]

It should be mandatory for all airline passengers flying into Thailand to wear amulets. These, of course, must be purchased onboard and returned before leaving the plane since they are cultural artifacts.

[Bagwan]

What millennium are these clowns living in?

[Confuscious]

You've got to love this guy for writing such nonsense and having the guts to publicize it.

Thailand, where every day is April fool's day

[GAZZPA]

Did I really just read this? Is this for real? So, a Snake God and bad spirits are plaguing the Thailand transport system, that's the official position from the authorities. Assuming that you have belief in the spirit world, since when did they target a transport network? Is this a spirit world conspiracy to stop people from traveling?

This is clearly an unbelievable load of old pony and only highlights the mentality of the people in charge. Do people really believe this? Even if they have faith in their own religion surely people can see that this is a very poor attempt to take attention away from the appalling safety conditions of the railway (i have travelled on the trains and seen it for myself) and I can only guess that the airline receives the same poor attention.

I feel sad for Thai people as the world looks on in disbelief and laughs. But more importantly, the word will look on and be asking what are they doing to improve the safety of the transport system, this is peoples lives you are playing with. By all means do whatever ceremony you believe necessary that supports your belief but do it in conjunction with a complete safety overhaul and then publish that to the world.

[EvilDrSomkid]

So, who has notified CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera etc. of this?

edit: I have taken the liberty of sending this to CNN.

[chooka]

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.

Now that would be silly without an amulet.

[cloudhopper]

I can only shake my head in sadness.

[harada]

Amazing Thai Airways

[dudu]

No one really mentions the good spirits,are they hiding, or is it they have lost to the dark side yet again? These remarks can be made in Thailand because everybody believes in it.

[Zumteufel]

Come on. I mean, come on.

[slipperylobster]

I blame the "spirits" that I drink when I get in trouble too....

[chuenyongman]

I wonder if the Western media will pick up on this statement issued by this airline and what will the other Western pilots think of the issue. There could be a lot of leg pulling between the pilots when they see a Thai pilot approaching. Like saying, have you got your lucky mascot with you?

[Angeledge777]

They also put some flowers in front of their car and overtake in curves thinking they will never have a car coming the other side.

[GentlemanJim]

So, who has notified CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera etc. of this?

edit: I have taken the liberty of sending this to CNN.

The BBC is now also done

............. and 'The Sun'

[cloudhopper]

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.

Yeah it's clear these people didn't get to their position through competence. From the article we have the (former, fortunately) director of the international airport and meteorology dept. -

"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"."

How unfortunate that Dr Smith is called a scientist here.

[TackyToo]

The only real enemies who threaten a country can be found at home, these are ignorance, superstition and incompetence. (Elbert Green Hubbard, American writer, essayist, philosopher, and publisher)

Superstition is the religion of fools. (Edmund Burke, Irish-British writer, philosopher and politician in the state during the Enlightenment. Considered as the spiritual father of conservatism)

Quite interesting how pseudo-educated people in high positions put the blame for their own lack of professionalism to spirits. Very convenient! However, the further educated rest of the world will look at them as what they are...

[sunshine51]

@gentlemanjim...I just asked my missus if there's a Thai word for "gremlins"...No was her answer.

@bagwan....Perhaps in or around 3K BC.

@EvilDrSomKid...I have....They're sending crews as I hack this for an in depth report.

@Chooka...You have a very good point there chooka...But which amulet would be
appropriate...that black round big one that was popular a few years ago?!

Now let's all sing along....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzRXtIiRKLk

[ginjag]

What a compete load of superstitious, nonsensical <deleted>

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

Was AOT CEO now Thai Airways CEO, and in these roles we have a person who has to resort to the medium etc.

GET on with running the Job properly, or get out and go into the spirit world.

[dru2]

In the other paper this morning there are reports that the Chiang Mai line train derailments may be being caused by bad luck emanating from a damaged painting hanging in the State Railway of Thailand HQ:

It 'shows wear and tear around the railway tracks fuelling rumours that it was a "bad omen" and had caused frequent derailments'.

[TackyToo]

No one really mentions the good spirits,are they hiding, or is it they have lost to the dark side yet again? These remarks can be made in Thailand because everybody believes in it.

There must be many "good spirits." Just ask a cop who turns home with his pockets full of tea money.

[sandrabbit]

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.

Yeah it's clear these people didn't get to their position through competence. From the article we have the (former, fortunately) director of the international airport and meteorology dept. -

"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"."

How unfortunate that Dr Smith is called a scientist here.

Is that the same Dr Smith from Lost in Space?.

[NongKhaiKid]

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.

.

The suposed guardian spirit in Thai Airlines uniform helping passengers was also witnessed by memebers of the Fire and Rescue team who claimed that everythime she passed their position their comms reception was broken up by the static electricity. I'm sure spirits were involved probably Lao Khau and this might well apply to many of the train drivers involved in derailments.

The guardian spirit is official as ahe was wearing traditional costume worn by flight attendants to welcome passengers on board before they change into the more functional flight uniform. All of the attendants on the flight were in working uniform at the time of the crash not the traditional one so it could not have been one of them.

The only reasonable conclusion is a kind, guardian spirit.

If this wasn't so serious it would be hysterical and remember this story, the prayer ceremonies etc. are conducted by and believed in by supposedly rational, adult professionals running an airline.

If this is how they operate it's hardly reassuring for passengers.

[SICHONSTEVE]

What a compete load of superstitious, nonsensical <deleted>

Someone please enlighten me that this is a 'spoof' article!!!!

Can you imagine the head of a FTSE100 company having a bit of bad luck with the companies fortunes ordering 'spirit appeasing' sessions in all of the underperforming divisions?

This is just so funny I can't take any more!!!.

[Patje]

Lucky they where already on the ground !!! Or do spirits not work in the air ? It amazes me what kind of crap they come up with , what is going to be the next thing ?!?

[hubahuba]

Who ya gunna call "GHOST BUSTERS"

[Patje]

Now i know, no more Thai Air for me !!!!

[hellodolly]

Did I really just read this? Is this for real? So, a Snake God and bad spirits are plaguing the Thailand transport system, that's the official position from the authorities. Assuming that you have belief in the spirit world, since when did they target a transport network? Is this a spirit world conspiracy to stop people from traveling?

This is clearly an unbelievable load of old pony and only highlights the mentality of the people in charge. Do people really believe this? Even if they have faith in their own religion surely people can see that this is a very poor attempt to take attention away from the appalling safety conditions of the railway (i have travelled on the trains and seen it for myself) and I can only guess that the airline receives the same poor attention.

I feel sad for Thai people as the world looks on in disbelief and laughs. But more importantly, the word will look on and be asking what are they doing to improve the safety of the transport system, this is peoples lives you are playing with. By all means do whatever ceremony you believe necessary that supports your belief but do it in conjunction with a complete safety overhaul and then publish that to the world.

How do you ride in a train car and see the poor condition of the road bed under the car?

[Carrerakiss]

Maybe these sort of comments are designed for the domestic audience? A lot of simple, and also not so simple, Thai folk will be very relieved to know the airline and airport are making some merit. I guess the airline and airport staff also.

Of course, it sounds loony tunes to an international audience, but the stories were in Thai publications. So long as they don't get international exposure, fine.

I do hope safety procedures are being looked at as well as spirit ceremonies though.

[NongKhaiKid]

This is tailor made for a TAT special.

I'm waiting for the ad campaign " Fly Thai Airways as You Are in Safe Unseen Hands ".