Heavy congestion at Kathmandu airport delays Thai rescue personnel

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Heavy congestion at Kathmandu airport delays Thai rescue personnel

Members of the Thai military board an official rescue plane headed for Kathmandu.

BANGKOK:-- A plane carrying 295 rescue personnel and journalists from Thailand has been forced to return to Bangkok after heavy congestion meant it was unable to land at Kathmandu airport.

THAI Airways International flight TG319 departed Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport on Monday but was unable to land at Kathmandu airport due to the large number of incoming flights bringing aid, relief and rescue workers to the disaster stricken region.

Air traffic control at Kathmandu has been order to give priority to official aircraft carrying aid and supplies, over other commercial flights. This meant that the THAI plane was forced to divert to Calcutta to refuel before returning to Suvarnabhumi in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha revealed all Thai nationals in Kathmandu were safe and had been accounted for, adding that 40 people were forced to take shelter at the Thai Embassy in city. The PM also said that the Thai military would be setting up a mobile hospital in the area to provide assistance to the relief effort.

In an interview with Reuters, Nepalese prime minister Sushil Koirala has said he predicts the death toll could double to more than 10,000 people.

“The death toll could go up to 10,000 because information from remote villages hit by the earthquake is yet to come in,” he said.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme says that 1.4 million people affected by the earthquake are in need of immediate help.

Footage taken on Monday from what is believed to be a drone shows the devastation caused by the earthquake.

https://youtu.be/PcXpQCr49Y4

[Tywais]

It would seem they would have thought to coordinate with Kathmandu before departing.

[zaphod reborn]

Nepal doesn't need any more journalists right now.

[phuketrichard]

journalist ( many of them) =ambulance chasers

looking for their next fix by going from one disaster to the next

One good thing about all the planes flying in is those that want, and can afford to, can get out

[micmichd]

The earthquake in Kathmandu was on Saturday and reported on Sunday. Why did TG still try to take off to Kathmandu on Monday?

Edited April 28, 2015 by micmichd

[chainarong]

At the moment as many hands as possible are required there, so all the best and a safe trip.

[taony]

Its not that long if a flight. They didn't know this before they took off?

[slapout]

one hand does not know what the other is doing.

diasters of this maganitude require a central command to ensure that equipment, support personel, expendable supplies, transport, etc are systamatically provided and brought into place where and when needed.

news reporters, gawkers, thrill seekers, etc are at the bottom of the list of ''help wanted'' requests.

too many wannabe chiefs not enough indians who are willing to put on overalls, work and get dirty many of these people on the thai flt, turned around probably had their makeup artist traveling with them for a little promo facebook .

this incident doesw indicfate lack of planning as does seem to be the norm in this country.in most of what they attempt., but seldomn achieve.

[NCC1701A]

they were not even allowed to land. sad... i wonder how many other countries got turned away? none?

did they bring food? rice? water? medical? tents? comm gear? plastic sheeting? clothes? or just more people not really prepared to take care of themselves?

what about evac of people out of the country to hospital?

i hope they get a chance to return... they need all the help they can get.

[Gillyflower]

On French TV it was reported almost immediately and until last night that the airport could not be used. For the people at the camps on Everest, the helicopters come in but can only take 3 people at a time.

[capt635]

Comments already made fully endorsed as regards Reporters, Photographers et al all out to make a Buck and worse of all marking erroneous reports similar to what was done recently in Thailand. Ban all of them!