Ceremony planned to thank evil spirits at Suvarnabhumi

[JO1973]

The ceremony will be conducted to 'thank' the malevolent spirit for helping people escape.

So who is exactly responsible for making the plane crash in the first place?

[Sydebolle]

Is this real, is this 21st century?

The mind boggles

[Rinrada]

Breaking news from the Foreign Office....

UK Citizens should be wary about flying TG due to the number of Ghost pilots employed by the airline and if they decide to travel with said operator are advised to check with your Travel insurance Company to ensure that you are covered in the event of.........

A letter confirming that no spirits/ghost/pee bobs/vampires or boggis are on board can/should be obtained from TG Airline office worlwide.

Have a nice trip..........er G & T ,nam keng and Lime jao.....

[canman]

Or put another way

Religion is like a penis. It's okay to have one It's okay to be proud of it HOWEVER Do not pull it out in public.

Western ethnocentric post. Maybe you haven't been in Asia long enough to realize that Asians wear their religion on their sleeve. If you live here, you're a misfit.

I've lived in asia for 30 years. Married to an asian and have done business with asians at a very high level both in government and in business. I don't agree with your statement but you are entitled to your opinion.

[NanLaew]

From the OP...

At the ceremony to open the airport in 2006, Chotisak said an official in charge of searching for explosive materials went into a trance believing that he was being possessed by a "grandfather ghost" who demanded a shrine be built at the airport, which it quickly was.

That does it! I am going to go into trance at the check-in, believing I am being possessed by a 'piss head ghost' and demand a pub be quickly built in the current desert that is domestic departures.

Edited September 17, 2013 by NanLaew

[kimamey]

So . . . who's flying with Thai Airways in the near future?

Well they have a reasonable safety record so I don't see any reason not to other than they seem to be very expensive. I've used them between BKK and Khon Kaen simply because there isn't an alternative. I don't know about international flights but on this route the planes are pretty new looking and other than the price I couldn't fault them.

I assume that this spirit business is just something the bosses come up with as they know enough about it to talk about it unlike the technical issues which they have no idea about. Those that have the responsibility for the technical side of flying and maintaining the aircraft are there because they are trained to do their job whereas the bosses are probably just have money and friends in influential positions.

If you ever hear Thai Airways quoting their customer service surveys to support their service I would ignore them. I tried to fill one in last year and I gave up as it was impossible to do. Although they must have known I had only flown domestically and that was confirmed in my answers they still asked how many Thai international flights I'd taken with the lowest available answer being one. They also insisted that I rate their in flight entertainment of which there isn't any on domestic flights. Unless of course you count the very nice flight attendants.

Basically there are two parts to Thai Airways, the air side part which seems OK and the land side part which isn't and comes up with all this spirit rubbish. They probably think this will go down well with Thais, which it might in some cases but internationally it will just paint Thailand as backward. There was talk a little while ago about taking action against anyone who does anything that damages the image of Thailand. This is a perfect place to start.

[puipuitom]

It is not so long ago, that catholic priests were asked the same. Even today, 2013, in several places in Spain, Portugal and Italy they are asked to bless cars, motor bikes etc with holy water. All to prevent against an evil spirit called: "Devil"

I want to bring in remembrance "Thanks Giving Day" in which entire USA thanks a supernatural entity for the crop, not the farmers.

Or the muslims, who for everything add: when Allah wants it.

Who am I to criticize a people to think of supernatural existences.

[Totster]

all this spirit rubbish.

Rubbish to you, important to them (Thais)

totster

[Gsxrnz]

For your entertainment, I copy below the CATHOLIC blessing for an Airplane as sourced from http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/resources/books-1962/rituale-romanum/54-blessings-of-things-designated-for-ordinary-use.html

Seems the Thais are not the only one obsessed with the supernatural.

16. BLESSING OF AN AIRPLANE

(Approved by the Congregation of Sacred Rites, March 24, 1920)

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made heaven and earth.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.

God, who made all things for your glory, yet destined every lower being in this world for man's service, we beg you to bless this airplane (these airplanes). Let it (them) serve to carry far and wide the fame and glory of your name, and in expediting more speedily the affairs of mankind without loss and accident. And let it (them) foster in the souls of all the faithful who travel in it (them) a longing for the things above; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
Let us pray.

God, who by the mystery of the incarnation mercifully consecrated the dwelling-place of the blessed Virgin Mary, and wondrously transferred it to the heart of your Church; we beg you to pour out your blessing on this airplane (these airplanes), so that all who fly in it (them) may, under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, happily reach their destination and then safely return home; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
Let us pray.

God, the salvation of those who trust in you, kindly appoint a good angel from on high as an escort for your servants who make an airplane voyage and who call on you for help. Let him shield the passengers throughout the flight and conduct them safely to their destination; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

It is sprinkled with holy water

[givenall]

Even in such obvious incompetent the Thai official will not face up to the reality

[zakk9]

Some believe in spirits, some believe in a magic guy in heaven who let a virgin give birth to his son. Same same but different

[Totster]

Even in such obvious incompetent the Thai official will not face up to the reality

Which obvious incompetence are you referring to ? Has the official investigation been concluded and the cause known to be due to incompetence ? Please provide a link.

totster

[Chittychangchang]

Worth a look

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/666141-thai-women-and-voodoo/

CCC

[blue6062]

may be this ghost can also fly the Thai planes to save money for the Thai aviation ?

[DocN]

Even in such obvious incompetent the Thai official will not face up to the reality

Which obvious incompetence are you referring to ? Has the official investigation been concluded and the cause known to be due to incompetence ? Please provide a link.

totster

Are you getting paid to do this?

Let me spell it out for you:

plane crashes- the crew to overpaint the logo is faster than any crew to secure and help the passengers.

Without any investigation, Thai Airways blames Star Alliance policy for the paint- job (LIE!) and already has an explanation for the accident at hand, blaming Airbus (LIE!).

They have major problems removing the plane, causing 80+ delays.

So we have lies, cover up's, blaming and shaming of other companies (try that in Thailand and see where it get's you) and on top of all that, they come up with the ghost and spirit explanation.

I think, one has to really go out of their way, to see anything remotely positive in that...but I guess, there is always an apologist, willing to try!

Good job!

[belg]

the world is watching and...

laughing

[Cuban]

......that he used to organise a regular prayer session to appease the vengeful spirits...

....he used to organise a regular prayer session to appease the Thai public that are superstitious.

Which is what is being done in this case.

======================on the other hand========================

How many people reading this thread have been at sea?

Did you go through the ceremony for appeasing Neptune when crossing the line?

And also carry out a ritual when it was necessary to re-name a vessel?

And who would mention a pig by name but always refer to them by fat-one or curly tail etc.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Cuban

[DocN]

......that he used to organise a regular prayer session to appease the vengeful spirits...

....he used to organise a regular prayer session to appease the Thai public that are superstitious.

Which is what is being done in this case.

======================on the other hand========================

How many people reading this thread have been at sea?

Did you go through the ceremony for appeasing Neptune when crossing the line?

And also carry out a ritual when it was necessary to re-name a vessel?

And who would mention a pig by name but always refer to them by fat-one or curly tail etc.

Yep...I also do not believe in St. Claus, but like to celebrate Christmas.

There is a difference between "folklore" and what is going on in this case....a 200 -people-per-plane- difference!

[Totster]

Even in such obvious incompetent the Thai official will not face up to the reality

Which obvious incompetence are you referring to ? Has the official investigation been concluded and the cause known to be due to incompetence ? Please provide a link.

totster

Are you getting paid to do this?

Let me spell it out for you:

plane crashes- the crew to overpaint the logo is faster than any crew to secure and help the passengers.

Without any investigation, Thai Airways blames Star Alliance policy for the paint- job (LIE!) and already has an explanation for the accident at hand, blaming Airbus (LIE!).

They have major problems removing the plane, causing 80+ delays.

So we have lies, cover up's, blaming and shaming of other companies (try that in Thailand and see where it get's you) and on top of all that, they come up with the ghost and spirit explanation.

I think, one has to really go out of their way, to see anything remotely positive in that...but I guess, there is always an apologist, willing to try!

Good job!

Sorry, as the topic has been about appeasing the spirits I assumed the poster you are defending was talking about this also.

Thai Airways haven't handled the PR with this issue very well, I'm not contesting that, but lets keep it on the topic at hand please. I believe there is another thread you can discuss the other issues.

Cheers

totster:)

p.s you win the second poster to wheel out the apologist remark award.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Totster

[Lobo4819]

Somebody better set these Thais straight. The next thing you know, they will claim to have a spirit that can make water into Lao Kao, can walk ON a rice paddy instead of in it, and can come back to life after being dead three days. Whoops! But if they did that, there wouldn't be any need for missionaries in Thailand.

[Bpuumike]

So . . . who's flying with Thai Airways in the near future?

If the price is right.

But it definitely is not.

Have opinions as to why they are so expensive but will withhold them.

[ginjag]

So . . . who's flying with Thai Airways in the near future?

Well they have a reasonable safety record so I don't see any reason not to other than they seem to be very expensive. I've used them between BKK and Khon Kaen simply because there isn't an alternative. I don't know about international flights but on this route the planes are pretty new looking and other than the price I couldn't fault them.

I assume that this spirit business is just something the bosses come up with as they know enough about it to talk about it unlike the technical issues which they have no idea about. Those that have the responsibility for the technical side of flying and maintaining the aircraft are there because they are trained to do their job whereas the bosses are probably just have money and friends in influential positions.

If you ever hear Thai Airways quoting their customer service surveys to support their service I would ignore them. I tried to fill one in last year and I gave up as it was impossible to do. Although they must have known I had only flown domestically and that was confirmed in my answers they still asked how many Thai international flights I'd taken with the lowest available answer being one. They also insisted that I rate their in flight entertainment of which there isn't any on domestic flights. Unless of course you count the very nice flight attendants.

Basically there are two parts to Thai Airways, the air side part which seems OK and the land side part which isn't and comes up with all this spirit rubbish. They probably think this will go down well with Thais, which it might in some cases but internationally it will just paint Thailand as backward. There was talk a little while ago about taking action against anyone who does anything that damages the image of Thailand. This is a perfect place to start.

Thai Smile budget aircraft are newish, they use them on domestic routes, and smart --I do BASH Thai International for their service --aircraft--attitude and pricing. BUT their Smile budget airline are very good.

[Fookhaht]

Or put another way

Religion is like a penis. It's okay to have one It's okay to be proud of it HOWEVER Do not pull it out in public.

Western ethnocentric post. Maybe you haven't been in Asia long enough to realize that Asians wear their religion on their sleeve. If you live here, you're a misfit.

I've lived in asia for 30 years. Married to an asian and have done business with asians at a very high level both in government and in business. I don't agree with your statement but you are entitled to your opinion.

One can clock up a lot of years and experiences, but still not learn from it.

[philw]

I am not sure if Thai Airways are taking this guy down with them OR he is taking Thai Airways off the map, because if these antics are to carry on the future for Thai Airways is GRIM.

He was in charge of AOT before was he not ??? and he overlooked what wrongs were going on at Swampy ??? speaks for it's self doesn't it ????

Didn't our EX PM TS, believe in this claptrap and the stars, and wants to return and run the country from within, these 2 guys together are amazing.

Re your last sentence, how do you feel about the ceremonial dressing of the Emerald Buddha and a certain ploughing ceremony ???

[mikemac]

Trying to decide what is worse, the debacle concerning the blacking out of the Thai Airways logo after the landing went horribly wrong / the boss of Thai Airways seemingly blaming evil spirits for the mishap, or the many foreigners on this forum who are making such a big deal out of it, like a dog with a bone they just won't let go.

Funny to me the number of posters hanging s##t on the Thai people for their belief in ghosts etc, saying things about nobody ever seeing one but they still believe in them. I wonder how many of these posters once believed in God, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus ? I used to believe in all three but don't recall ever seeing them. People who live in glass houses...................

[philw]

Trying to decide what is worse, the debacle concerning the blacking out of the Thai Airways logo after the landing went horribly wrong / the boss of Thai Airways seemingly blaming evil spirits for the mishap, or the many foreigners on this forum who are making such a big deal out of it, like a dog with a bone they just won't let go.

Funny to me the number of posters hanging s##t on the Thai people for their belief in ghosts etc, saying things about nobody ever seeing one but they still believe in them. I wonder how many of these posters once believed in God, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus ? I used to believe in all three but don't recall ever seeing them. People who live in glass houses...................

Yeah.

In the late eighties there was a Lufthansa cargo plane that crashed at KaiTak.

Lufthansa were very fast to paint out the logo's.

Check it at the SCMP site etc......

Let's change the Thai bashing to German or HK Chinese bashing.

Like the car accident threads, there are no drunken, stupid accidents in Europe, Oz or USA, are there ??

Edited September 17, 2013 by philw

[marcusd]

I am only wondering how the world and medias will react to such childish attitude. I am also waiting for the Star Alliance official statement about this ghost and spirit nonsense. If Thai Airways think that will resolve technical problems then I will fly with more reliable airlines companies in the future. Security doesnt depends on okus pokus non sense.   

 

Just because you don't believe, you shouldn't mock those that do.  Thai's have a high respect for spirits and ghosts and business and individuals make offerings to them everyday as part of their life.  This is a quite normal response from Thai people after accidents, bad luck etc.  Try and respect others beliefs, and if you can't do so don't say anything at all.

 

totster 

Totster... a major WORLD WIDE COMPANY OFFICIAL said this crap. Not the village dim wit

Sent from my GT-N7000B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ginjag]

I am not sure if Thai Airways are taking this guy down with them OR he is taking Thai Airways off the map, because if these antics are to carry on the future for Thai Airways is GRIM.

He was in charge of AOT before was he not ??? and he overlooked what wrongs were going on at Swampy ??? speaks for it's self doesn't it ????

Didn't our EX PM TS, believe in this claptrap and the stars, and wants to return and run the country from within, these 2 guys together are amazing.

Re your last sentence, how do you feel about the ceremonial dressing of the Emerald Buddha and a certain ploughing ceremony ???

I have little feeling sometimes towards my own religion, so when this guy comes out with this it makes me shake my head ( if he believes keep it to his personal self) you do not ruffle the feathers of customers when running a business, unless you want to lose a %. I live here and help with local functions at temples schools, but do not enter their realms, so for an International Airline keep the religions and spirits out of it.

[Totster]

I am only wondering how the world and medias will react to such childish attitude. I am also waiting for the Star Alliance official statement about this ghost and spirit nonsense. If Thai Airways think that will resolve technical problems then I will fly with more reliable airlines companies in the future. Security doesnt depends on okus pokus non sense.

Just because you don't believe, you shouldn't mock those that do. Thai's have a high respect for spirits and ghosts and business and individuals make offerings to them everyday as part of their life. This is a quite normal response from Thai people after accidents, bad luck etc. Try and respect others beliefs, and if you can't do so don't say anything at all.

totster

Totster... a major WORLD WIDE COMPANY OFFICIAL said this crap. Not the village dim wit

Sent from my GT-N7000B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

That's a really nice opinion of Thai people you have there marcusd, you should feel very proud.

totster

[Totster]

...so for an International Airline keep the religions and spirits out of it.

Why? Because it offends your western views ?

totster