Air crash simulation at Phuket Airport

MAI KHAO, PHUKET: A full-scale air crash simulation took place at Phuket International Airport this morning under the banner of the Emergency Plan Exercise 2009.

From 9.00am to 12pm officials from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, Phuket Provincial Police, Tourist Police, Marine Police, airline staff and other local government and private sector agencies combined efforts to evaluate their readiness for an airplane crash.

The drill was held one day before the two-year anniversary of the 2007 One-Two-Go crash which claimed 90 lives.

Airport General Manager Wing Commander Prathueng Sornkham said a Boeing 737-400 airplane owned by Thai Airways was used in the crash simulation.

“The crash simulation took place at bay 14, away from the runway, so as not to cause any delay to daily operating flights,” said Mr Prathueng.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan