Bangkok Airways’ President heads to Samui

Bangkok / 5 August 2009; 10:00 hrs – Captain Puttipong Prasattong-Osoth, the President of Bangkok Airways, is scheduled to be in Samui today for an on-site inspection as well as to visit the remaining 8 passengers with injuries at the Bangkok Samui Hospital. Passengers with minor injuries have all returned to hotel, and those who have not been injured are taken care of at a designated hotel under a close look of psychiatrists.

Upon his visit, he released a statement of sympathy: “On behalf of Bangkok Airways, I would like to, again, express my sympathy towards our passengers and crews who have been affected from the unfortunate accident of PG 266 in Samui, particularly my deepest condolence to the family of Captain Chatchai Punsuvan, who lost his life in this accident. While the investigation of this accident remains underway, Bangkok Airways’ management reassures that we continue to take safety as priority in all aspects of our operations,” said Captain Puttipong, “We are conforming to our Crisis Management standard in order to regain our status in normalcy the fastest possible,” added Captain Puttipong.

The latest update: Bangkok Airways had extra flights on standby the whole night at Suratthani Airport with necessary transfers arranged for all stranded passengers between Suratthani Airport (alternate airport) and Samui on both ferry and airlift mobilization by helicopters from Bangkok Hospital and the National Police Bureau, due to the temporary closure of Samui Airport since yesterday. Meanwhile, Samui Airport is expected to reopen at around 13.00 hrs this afternoon.

The flight movements between Bangkok and Suratthani are as in the followings.

* Bangkok-Suratthani/ Suratthani-Bangkok PG 5111 06.00 - 07.50 / PG 5112 07.45 - 08.50 (extra flight)
* PG 103 06.00 - 07.05 / PG 104 07.45 - 08.50
* PG 121 07.30 - 08.35 / PG 122 09.15 - 10.20
* PG 5125 08.00-09.05 / PG 5126 09.45 - 10.50 (extra flight)
* PG 123 08.15 - 09.20 / PG 217 10.00 - 11.05
* PG 127 09.00 - 10.05 / PG 128 10.45 - 11.50
* PG 805 09.40 - 10.45 / PG 138 12.20 - 13.25

* Chiang Mai - Suratthani PG 242 09.55 - 11.40

Bangkok Airways holds press conference over Samui accident

Bangkok Airways’ Head Office/ August 4th, 2009 – At 17.00 hrs, Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, the President of Bangkok Airways, held a press conference about the accident of the airline’s flight PG 266 from Krabi skidding off the runway and collided with the former control tower during the flight’s captain attempted to land at Samui Airport.

The flight, operated by ATR-72 500 series MSN670 with 70 seats, carried 68 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants. All passengers have been evacuated from the site with four seriously injured passengers sent to the Bangkok Samui Hospital, and two others with minor injuries delivered to the Thai Inter Hospital. The 62 other passengers have been transferred to hotel. Two flight attendants and a pilot were reportedly safe, while the other pilot was dead.

Currently, the airline has dispatched the investigation team from the Department of Aviation to the accident site at Samui Airport.

The airline’s insurance company - Bangkok Insurance, will cover full liability caused by this accident.

For more information, please contact the Emergency Call Center 02 265 8777.
BANGKOK AIRWAYS CO., LTD
99 MU 14 VIBHAVADIRANGSIT ROAD, CHOM PHON, CHATUCHAK, BANGKOK 10900 THAILAND
TEL +66 2270 6699