Death toll in Phuket plane crash rises

PHUKET (Nation): Some 60 bodies have been retrieved from the wreckage of a One-Two-Go airplane from Bangkok that exploded and broke in two after it slid off the runway and crashed at Phuket International Airport this afternoon.

Some reports put the death toll at about 80, but this has yet to be confirmed. The nationalities of those on board are not yet known.

A surviving passenger said the plane “landed hard” and “bounced” and then skidded off the runway.

Civil aviation official Chiasak Angkauwan said, “The airplane asked to land but due to the weather in Phuket – strong wind and heavy rain – maybe the pilot did not see the runway clearly.

“The plane then fell onto the runway and broke into two,” he said.

“We are rescuing people from the aircraft… we know now there were 123 passengers and five crew.

“We won’t know what really happened until we hear the black box.”

The aircraft, flight number OG 269, was landing about 3:40pm when the it went into a slide and crashed into trees and walls surrounding the airport.

Eye-witnesses said the impact of the crash caused the plane to break in two and they heard a series of explosions.

Rescue teams and navy personnel rushed to the scene.

So far the passengers who have been rushed to hospital are:

1. Likhit Liengpansakul (ICU (ICU = Intensive Care Unit)

2. Parinwit Choosaeng - ICU

3. Chainarong maharae - ICU

4. Apichart Pata

5. Eric Nileland

6. Cristopher Maken

7. Nong Kaonual

8. Ladda Kaonual

9. Pratin Lienchamroon

10. Sarah (surname unknown)

Phuket, Thailand
19:40 local time (GMT +7)

source: Pukhet Gazette