Memorial service for One-Two-Go victims

MAI KHAO: To mark the one-year anniversary of the One-Two-Go flight OG 269 tragedy and to honor its victims, there will be a memorial service on Mai Khao Beach, near the end of the runway, at 3 pm on Tuesday, September 16.

Some spirit houses have already been installed at the service site, and Christy Sweet will be putting one more spirit house there on the day.

There will be a Buddhist service during the placement of the spirit house and a reading of the names of those who perished in the disaster.

Christy Sweet is organizing the activity on behalf of Bonnie Rind, sister to one of those who died in the accident and publisher of InvestigateUdom.com, a website that aims to have One-Two-Go and Orient Thai Airlines owner Udom Tatiprosongchai brought to trial over the air crash.

“One-Two-Go staff will be arranging the monks for the ceremony,” Ms Sweet said.

However, One-Two-Go will not be holding a memorial service of their own this year. Somjai Krongsuksan, secretary to Mr Udom, said: “Last year, we invited the families of all the victims to a ceremony, but this year we are not arranging anything.”

Phuket International Airport Director Vicha Nernlop said, “We’ve heard nothing about the ceremony and we have no intention of organizing one ourselves, because not everyone likes to be reminded about tragedies like that.

“Of course, if there are people who would like to organize such a ceremony, then they could contact us and we would help out to ensure that it runs smoothly.”