233 Thais stranded at Don Mueang Airport

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok:- A total of 233 Thai tourists have been left stranded at the Don Mueang International Airport as their charter flight has not received a permission to fly to Japan.

The Thais were scheduled to leave the airport at 1:40 am Saturday on Asian Air’s Flight DM464 to Sapporo but the chartered flight has not been approved by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).

By 1 am after the plight was shared on online social networks, reporters rushed to the airport and found most of the passengers gathering on the third floor of the airport in front of the out-passenger international terminal.

They were complaining and cursing the airline and the tour company. They said they bought a tour package from Pro Asia Travel for Bt55,000.

Later on, Asian Air president David Srichai-udom came to the scene and the passengers swarmed him, asking for explanation and compensation.

They used harsh words to criticize David because they said the airline officials had confirmed with them that the airline had got the permission from the JCAB to fly the flight to Sapporo.

Chartered flights to Japan have been affected after the International Civil Aviation Organization has concluded that the Thai Civil Aviation Department failed to meet international safety standards.

David promised to pay compensation to the passengers for the waste of time and offered hotel accommodation for them. He offered to repay the fare within seven days.

Wichit Ua-wirawat, 65, one of the passengers, said he and ten friends bought the package.

Wichit said he was told by the tour company to check it at 9 pm Friday but no airline officials turned up to process the check-in. They leaned at 11 pm that the airline did not get a permission to fly the chartered flight.

[LuckyLew]

First of many to come especially if the Thai aviation industry is in as much trouble as it appears

Feel sorry for the passengers

[JOC]

And of course there was no way the airline could have informed the passengers before they traveled to the airport??

The usual Thai attitude: We got your money, <deleted> you!!

Hope irresponsible carriers like this get grounded for good!!

Poor passengers, maybe been looking forward to their holiday for a long time, and then this happens...................

[JOC]

>>They used harsh words to criticize David because they said the airline officials had confirmed with them that the airline had got the permission from the JCAB to fly the flight to Sapporo.<< Quote

In a similar situation, I would have more than "harsh words".

[JOC]

And Thaitanic is steaming ahead........................

Closer and closer to the iceberg, but from the bridge captain Prayut are ensuring everyone; "Everything is under control, this is priority # 1"

[zydeco]

Maybe they can all go to Russia instead, especially since Russia has so deeply expressed their "understanding" and "brotherly" feeling for Thailand.

[anotheruser]

>>They used harsh words to criticize David because they said the airline officials had confirmed with them that the airline had got the permission from the JCAB to fly the flight to Sapporo.<< Quote

In a similar situation, I would have more than "harsh words".

Right, because you would obviously threaten people and become aggressive in an airport. Why do people even post such nonsense?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Well, here's where the Thai government civil aviation folks claimed they had reached an agreement with Japan to allow the resumption of charter flights starting April 11 / Sat. So that should have meant the Sat. Asian Air flight would have been OK to go...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/814633-japan-and-thailand-sign-a-deal-to-continue-chartered-flights/

And then the earlier, original version

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813828-japan-to-revise-charter-flight-ban-on-thai-airlines/

Except, curiously, when I did some checking on that news last week, the news of the supposed agreement was ONLY being reported by Thai news sources and/or quoting Thai transport officials.

I couldn't find a single news source that had any Japanese aviation official confirming that news, or even any Japanese news site confirming that same supposed news... Nor could I find any mention of the agreement on the Japan Civil Aviation website, which has an English version.

So...it makes you kind of wonder.... was someone telling Thai porkies again???

[Rhys]

Thai Charter BS 069 Taxi runway 69 L... on approach.. Thank you good flight captain.

[NongKhaiKid]

Well, here's where the Thai government civil aviation folks claimed they had reached an agreement with Japan to allow the resumption of charter flights starting April 11 / Sat. So that should have meant the Sat. Asian Air flight would have been OK to go...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/814633-japan-and-thailand-sign-a-deal-to-continue-chartered-flights/

And then the earlier, original version

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813828-japan-to-revise-charter-flight-ban-on-thai-airlines/

Except, curiously, when I did some checking on that news last week, the news of the supposed agreement was ONLY being reported by Thai news sources and/or quoting Thai transport officials.

I couldn't find a single news source that had any Japanese aviation official confirming that news, or even any Japanese news site confirming that same supposed news... Nor could I find any mention of the agreement on the Japan Civil Aviation website, which has an English version.

So...it makes you kind of wonder.... was someone telling Thai porkies again???

It's become standard operating procedure for Thais to make statements on behalf of other countries and organisations etc and unfortunately seem to get away with it.

In diplomatic circles many complaints etc are dealt with quietly behind the scenes but if this it has happened it hasn't had any effect it appears.

LoS is good at speaking out of turn and the exact opposite at apologising or retracting erroneous comments.

As far as the airline industry is concerned they're just digging a deeper hole with this sort of incident.

[dickyknee]

"Stranded"?

I'm sure most of them could have gone home, though disappointed.

[vegasphl]

Lucky he did not get his leg broken. \

[BSJ]

If you want stranded watch "Gilligan's Island"! These Thai people at a Thai airport in Thailand were just inconvenienced.

[Langsuan Man]

Seriously are we expats the only ones in Thailand that pay attention to what is going on around us ?

Not one person scheduled for that flight was aware of the problem with Japan, S. Korea, etc. restricting Thai charter flights, which has been reported here and in both the English language newspapers for the last two weeks ?

[Oziex1]

So what really happened, It's been reported elsewhere that it is simply a matter of the Airlines submitting flight paperwork too late.

About ten years too late I believe!

[Caveat Emptor]

Well, here's where the Thai government civil aviation folks claimed they had reached an agreement with Japan to allow the resumption of charter flights starting April 11 / Sat. So that should have meant the Sat. Asian Air flight would have been OK to go...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/814633-japan-and-thailand-sign-a-deal-to-continue-chartered-flights/

And then the earlier, original version

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813828-japan-to-revise-charter-flight-ban-on-thai-airlines/

Except, curiously, when I did some checking on that news last week, the news of the supposed agreement was ONLY being reported by Thai news sources and/or quoting Thai transport officials.

I couldn't find a single news source that had any Japanese aviation official confirming that news, or even any Japanese news site confirming that same supposed news... Nor could I find any mention of the agreement on the Japan Civil Aviation website, which has an English version.

So...it makes you kind of wonder.... was someone telling Thai porkies again???

It's become standard operating procedure for Thais to make statements on behalf of other countries and organisations etc and unfortunately seem to get away with it.

In diplomatic circles many complaints etc are dealt with quietly behind the scenes but if this it has happened it hasn't had any effect it appears.

LoS is good at speaking out of turn and the exact opposite at apologising or retracting erroneous comments.

As far as the airline industry is concerned they're just digging a deeper hole with this sort of incident.

It's reasonable to think this will have attracted attention and not only in Japan as Thai aviation is very much in the spotlight.

Does LoS actually think this will simply be written off in Japan etc and will not attract extra attention resulting in an even more jaundiced view of Thai safety etc ?

Thailand shoots itself in the foot but as usual it will be someone else's fault.

[steven100]

From what I heard the most recent update is that the government has intervened and all passengers have been booked and re-routed to Moscow for a one week holiday.

[geriatrickid]

Thailand now has something in common with Russia: Its discount tour operators have similar problems except, the Russian planes breakdown stranding pax. I feel sorry for those Thai pax, but as pointed out above, this should not have been a surprise.

[silverhawk_usa]

Seriously are we expats the only ones in Thailand that pay attention to what is going on around us ?

Not one person scheduled for that flight was aware of the problem with Japan, S. Korea, etc. restricting Thai charter flights, which has been reported here and in both the English language newspapers for the last two weeks ?

The article states: "They used harsh words to criticize David because they said the airline officials had confirmed with them that the airline had got the permission from the JCAB to fly the flight to Sapporo."

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Thais using harsh words and cursing? MY MY Mai!

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

The cursing and harsh words probably didn't offend Khun David. The 2 Thai's that knew English were drowned out by the remaining 231. "Sticks and stone may break my bones but Thai words will never hurt me"

[JOC]

>>They used harsh words to criticize David because they said the airline officials had confirmed with them that the airline had got the permission from the JCAB to fly the flight to Sapporo.<< Quote

In a similar situation, I would have more than "harsh words".

Right, because you would obviously threaten people and become aggressive in an airport. Why do people even post such nonsense?

Yeah you are right!!

Not my smartest post......................

[Oziex1]

The cursing and harsh words probably didn't offend Khun David. The 2 Thai's that knew English were drowned out by the remaining 231. "Sticks and stone may break my bones but Thai words will never hurt me"

David Srichai-udom, good chance he understands Thai language also if he was farrang in a senior position he would be required to understand the local language, don''t you think.

[SoilSpoil]

This should be investigated. Why were the passengers informed at the airport and not days in advance. For a lot of them this was the trip of their lifetime. Every Thai wants to go to Japan at the moment and with complete tour packages for 'only' 55k very tempting. I've seen the chaotic scenes at a Japan fair at Siam Paragon where these packages were sold. I feel deeply sorry for those who had to return home. They should have been informed much earlier.

And for us, Internationals, its easy to say that they could have known, but Thai media is not known for its global scopes or issues where Thailand faces criticism.

[Bluespunk]

Seriously are we expats the only ones in Thailand that pay attention to what is going on around us ?

Not one person scheduled for that flight was aware of the problem with Japan, S. Korea, etc. restricting Thai charter flights, which has been reported here and in both the English language newspapers for the last two weeks ?

The English language papers also carried stories claiming that the Japanese had relented and were now allowing charter flights.

[JOC]

The plot thickens!!

The airline in question Asian Air is based in Dubai!!

A Songkran present from Abe to Prayut??

[NongKhaiKid]

Seriously are we expats the only ones in Thailand that pay attention to what is going on around us ?

Not one person scheduled for that flight was aware of the problem with Japan, S. Korea, etc. restricting Thai charter flights, which has been reported here and in both the English language newspapers for the last two weeks ?

The English language papers also carried stories claiming that the Japanese had relented and were now allowing charter flights.

Exactly, the order of business was that the Japanese were imposing a ban, then came ' negotiators ' had been sent to explain why, after so many years of inaction, a suspension of the ban was needed then came the announcement that it had been agreed to.

I cannot remember any Japanese source being quoted only officials here.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

So, what about the OTHER Thai charter flights to Japan??? Presumably, there have been at least some other charters scheduled out of DM to Japan since the early Sat debacle. Anyone heard or seen anything about whether those have departed, or likewise are getting held?

I see the BKK Post website has an article from yesterday saying there were 3 Japan flights out of DM that got scrubbed -- two from Asian Air and another from NokScoot. And a Thai DCA official claiming the reason was the airlines failed to get their "safety inspection reports" to the Japanese CAB far enough ahead of those flights.

No mention at all in that article about Korea...which if I recall right still has its ban in place.

[Bluespunk]

So, what about the OTHER Thai charter flights to Japan??? Presumably, there have been at least some other charters scheduled out of DM to Japan since the early Sat debacle. Anyone heard or seen anything about whether those have departed, or likewise are getting held?

Good point.

[Oziex1]

So, what about the OTHER Thai charter flights to Japan??? Presumably, there have been at least some other charters scheduled out of DM to Japan since the early Sat debacle. Anyone heard or seen anything about whether those have departed, or likewise are getting held?

Interesting point, maybe just maybe they have accepted the umpires decision and canceled.