Over 87 killed in Thai plane crash
Rushda:
September 16th, 2007
A plane from budget airline One-Two-Go crashed upon landing today in the Thai holiday resort of Phuket and killed at least 87 people. The plane was travelling from the capital, Bangkok, and it is believed that most of the passengers were internationals, with some Britons amongst them as well. Both the pilot and the co-pilot survived.
Though officials are still unsure as to how such a terrible catastrophe occurred, it is believed that strong winds and heavy rain contributed to the crash. The pilot had originally asked to abort the landing of the plane but it still ended up falling onto the runaway and slipping off it, after which it exploded into flames. Up to half of the passengers managed to crawl out of the wreckage, many of which are now in intensive care being treated for their severe burns. As a survivor Parinwit Chusaeng explains:
“I saw passengers engulfed in fire as I stepped over them on the way out of the plane. I was afraid that the airplane was going to explode, so I ran away.”
At least 70 of the passengers are believed to have been foreign nationals from countries such as Australia, Britain, France, Iran, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
The crash is indeed a terrible tragedy - being the worst one in almost ten years in Thailand. Hopefully the ones who are being treated will make good recovery.