Nok Air issues grovelling apology to Yingluck after pilots joked they would fly her into the ground

[webfact]

Nok Air have issued a groveling apology to former PM Yingluck Shinawatra after pilots joked they would fly her into the ground

BANGKOK: -- A smiling picture of Yingluck and her team at Prae airport had earlier been pictured on a Line app for pilots with the teasing caption.

"There's a victim on board!" It then referred to the technical jargon of CFIT (controlled flight into terrain) that effectively means crashing the plane into the ground.

A young relative of the former PM Sand (Chayika) Wongnaphachan who was in the party flying to Bangkok after a visit to Prae said: "Do they think it is funny to joke about the safety of passengers on their flights? And I would also like to know what the executives are going to do about it?"

Nok Air groveled in apology but it was not reported what action they intend to take.

The airline said:"We would like to apologize profusely on behalf of our pilots to Yingluck Shinawatra for the inappropriate comments. We are a law abiding and responsible airline that gives all our passengers the best possible service."

They distanced themselves from the comments saying they did not represent the feelings of Nok Air in any way.

Phumitham Wetyachai a Pheu Thai party official also on the flight was another who had not seen the funny side of the comments: "It was a real shock to be viewed as a victim rather than a customer - so they intended to crash the plane to hurt those bringing them custom and revenue?"

"How can they use passengers' safety as a source of fun and amusement?," he added.

CFIT according to Wikipedia is an accident in which an aircraft, under pilot control is unintentionally flown into the ground, a mountain, a body of water or obstacle. In a typical CFIT (usually pronounced CEEFIT) scenario the crew is unaware of the impending disaster until it is too late.

The caption had appeared with the photo of the smiling group of the PM and her entourage. It was posted in a group of employees described as assistants to pilots.

Source: Sanook, Voice TV

-- 2016-06-13

[webfact]

Nok Air apologizes Ms Yingluck for its pilots’ negative views

BANGKOK: -- Nok Air last night issued an announcement apologising former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for the negative conversations its pilots made about her on a flight to Bangkok.

In the statement issued by Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin, he said the conversation was the individual expression of the views of the pilots which Nok Air had nothing to do with, and totally disagreed.

The conversation was shared widely on Application Line and was said to be made by Nok Air pilots flying on flight from Phrae to Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport where the former prime minister and her team were on board.

Nok Air CEO affirmed in the statement of the airline’s good governance in treating all passengers fairly without discrimination.

Such conversation by its pilots was the expression of views of each individual which had nothing to do with the airline, he said in the statement.

The airline totally disagreed with the inappropriate acts and promised an inquiry into the case is underway, the statement said.

He voiced regret for the incident and offered apology for the former prime minister.

He added that this statement by the airline could serve as the strong opposition of the airline’s stance against negative views by its employees to its passengers.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nok-air-apologizes-ms-yingluck-pilots-negative-views/


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-13

[trogers]

Aww... Just a technical jargon use with another pilot, who almost flew the country to the ground...

[ezzra]

God forbid you make a joke about a bomb or even look like an Arab and all hell will turn loose

on you, and here we have a pilot who make such stupid jokes about passengers life,

I think the book should be thrown at this idiot, and the sooner the better.....

[The stuttering parrot]

Imagine what would happen to the pilots if it was current PM was the victim.

[Roomuck]

Have the Shinawatras fallen on hard times?

Budget carrier Nok Air?

They are the only airline I deliberately avoid. After dealing with their ground crew and flight crew a few times I decided I wasn't going to trust their pilots anymore either.

[Bluespunk]

Yingluck flies nok air? My but that's a come down...

[aussieinthailand]

Aww... Just a technical jargon use with another pilot, who almost flew the country to the ground...

Reckon you would have a very different opinion and comment if the "victim" was your wife or kids or was the current PM who has very much flown the country into the ground and countless peoples lives. Not so funny now huh...

This idiot so-called pilot should not only be sacked immediately but his pilots license revoked indefinitely then make a very public apology and large fines.

As if the country's aviation sector isn't in enough trouble.

[anto]

Yingluck flies nok air? My but that's a come down...

Just for show .I am quite sure that she regularly flies by private jet . I am also sure its on standby to take her quickly out of the Country if necessary .Prison would not be good for her hair or finger nails .

Edited June 13, 2016 by anto

[canopus1969]

Nothing wrong with Nok Air apart from their pilots - those responsible should be fired at once and their names circulated in the industry so they cannot get another pilot's job

[Brer Fox]

So now it is confirmed that even Nok Air pilots are children at heart just like most of the rest of Thai men.

[mtls2005]

CFIT. Very professional.

I guess that's marginally better than the epithets the screaming yellow horde heaped on her daily during their successful overthrow of the government.

Next up: making fun of immigrants, handicapped people and dark-sinned folks from up-country.

[waldroj]

"We would like to apologize profusely..."

Well might they, a profound apology would be more sincere!

[tukkytuktuk]

[scorecard]

Aww... Just a technical jargon use with another pilot, who almost flew the country to the ground...

Reckon you would have a very different opinion and comment if the "victim" was your wife or kids or was the current PM who has very much flown the country into the ground and countless peoples lives. Not so funny now huh...

This idiot so-called pilot should not only be sacked immediately but his pilots license revoked indefinitely then make a very public apology and large fines.

As if the country's aviation sector isn't in enough trouble.

No sense of humour today?

[mtls2005]

Have the Shinawatras fallen on hard times?

Budget carrier Nok Air?

Limited options to PRH. I think DD is currently the only scheduled option.

The runway at PRH has been lengthened, and the airport upgraded; but not a lot of traffic.

[halloween]

Ask not what your country can do for you....................

[scorecard]

Nok Air apologizes Ms Yingluck for its pilots’ negative views

BANGKOK: -- Nok Air last night issued an announcement apologising former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for the negative conversations its pilots made about her on a flight to Bangkok.

In the statement issued by Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin, he said the conversation was the individual expression of the views of the pilots which Nok Air had nothing to do with, and totally disagreed.

The conversation was shared widely on Application Line and was said to be made by Nok Air pilots flying on flight from Phrae to Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport where the former prime minister and her team were on board.

Nok Air CEO affirmed in the statement of the airline’s good governance in treating all passengers fairly without discrimination.

Such conversation by its pilots was the expression of views of each individual which had nothing to do with the airline, he said in the statement.

The airline totally disagreed with the inappropriate acts and promised an inquiry into the case is underway, the statement said.

He voiced regret for the incident and offered apology for the former prime minister.

He added that this statement by the airline could serve as the strong opposition of the airline’s stance against negative views by its employees to its passengers.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nok-air-apologizes-ms-yingluck-pilots-negative-views/

-- Thai PBS 2016-06-13

From another report, in part:

'... the party's chief legal adviser ... on the flight with Ms Yingluck... said... pilots had an ethical and professional responsibility to their passengers.... '

Just wondering whether anybody from the shin / udd / red camp is in a situation to comment on ethics and responsibilities to passengers / the citizens of Thailand, etc.

Not to forget nong oak commented that pilots should be focused on their duties... oh the irony.

[thai3]

Great lady, easy to snipe and sneer at her- now. I would have been more impressed with these shit pilots if they had the nerve to say this when she was the PM, anyone can kick somebody when they are down, in this case deposed from the majority decision of the Thai people by courts and tanks.

[DM07]

No irony, just 2 completely unrelated incidents!

But that doesn't matter to the "but...but...Thaksin"- crowd!

Childish, really!

[kmj]

They will be lucky if the pilots can still do any international flights now after this is reported...

[Somtamnication]

Beats the hell out of PAN PAN PAN!

[dcnx]

Honestly, they should fire them. That's not the sort of thing a PILOT should be joking about.

[ChrisY1]

Taxi drivers trained as Nok Air pilots.............!

[toybits]

When a passenger jokes about a bomb during a flight, he is promptly taken cared of, either put in prison or slapped with a hefty fine. Same should apply to airline personnel.

[halloween]

Great lady, easy to snipe and sneer at her- now. I would have been more impressed with these shit pilots if they had the nerve to say this when she was the PM, anyone can kick somebody when they are down, in this case deposed from the majority decision of the Thai people by courts and tanks.

The OFFICE of PM demands its own respect. After you leave office, the respect you have is that which you earned by your honesty, integrity, altruism, perspicacity and diligence. Then we have Yingluk.

[Tonawatchee]

The pilots are the ones that should have done the grovelling.

[toybits]

Pilot should immediately be given a psychological test. Not good to have a repeat of the Germanwings Flight 9525 where the pilot Andreas Lubitz did a CFIT into the Alps killing all of the 150 passengers.

Edited June 13, 2016 by toybits

[ramrod711]

"It was a real shock to be viewed as a victim rather than a customer,

Just what taxpayers were saying after the rice scheme, even the poor farmers lost. Someone gained I suppose, maybe Nattawut transport, or the storage facilities, especially the ones who are still getting paid. Absolutely no reason to fly her into the ground though, why crash a perfectly good plane?

[sandrew33]

The pilots are the ones that should have done the grovelling.

An educated Bangkok Thai apologise to a Northern Red? Surely you jest