Chiang Rai airport reopens as stranded Nok Air plane removed

The Nok Air aircraft is being removed from the runway of Chiang Rai airport in Chiang Rai province on Thursday. (Photo: Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand)
The Nok Air aircraft has been removed from the runway of Chiang Rai airport in Chiang Rai province on Thursday. (Photo: City Aviation Authority of Thailand)

Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport reopens on Friday after a damaged Nok Air plane had been removed from the catwalk, said Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.

He mentioned Airports of Asia (AoT) and the Section of Airports (DoA) had cleared the particular runway which Nok Air’s Boeing 737-800 skidded off on July 30, leading to flight cancellations plus an airport shutdown.

The particular Civil Aviation Expert of Thailand finished examining the runway for safety upon Thursday  before the airport reopening.

Chiang Rai Airport Director Sqn Ldr Somchanok Tiamtiabrat mentioned the plane’s removal was delayed due to difficulties moving this without causing a lot more damage to the aircraft’s wings.

Sqn Ldr Somchanok said the air travel and airport personnel had contacted Thailänder Airways International (THAI) for a recovery group to send licensed engineers and equipment to remove the stranded aircraft. The recovery team had to be careful to not cause further damage to both the 60-tonne aircraft and the runway, this individual said.

Sqn Ldr Somchanok said the operation went according to the Global Civil Aviation Organization’s regulation on plane removal. He also said the plane has been now safely left at a pit prevent which is about six hundred metres away from the initial position in which it had been stranded after this veered off the catwalk following a brake malfunction.

Nok Air chief executive Wutthiphum Jurangkool said the airline will make up all passengers around the flight with refunds and free tickets worth one million baht. All people are to be given tickets for a round vacation valid for a calendar year and they can ask for refunds, cancellations or even destination changes with no charges, he stated.

Mister Wutthiphum also looked after the pilot from the aircraft. “The pilot did his best to land the aircraft and there were simply no deaths or casualties, ” he mentioned. “He has worked as being a pilot for fifteen years and the co-pilot has three years associated with experience with Nok Atmosphere. Every step of the evacuation proceeded to go according to safety methods. ”