One of the victims of the Thai air disaster is to be buried today by family in Londonderry.
The remains of the 22 year old were sent back home on Friday to the Drumard Park home in the Hazelbank area.
The aircraft crashed on landing when it came down in bad weather killing 88 people.
Patricia Logue Aaron's Aunt said:
"We the parents and brothers of Aaron Toland would like to express heartfelt gratitude to our family and friends who have given us great comfort and support as we mourn the loss of our beloved son and brother Aaron. Nothing could prepare us to lose Aaron in this terrible tragic manner so far away from us, his family.
"We are heartened that he is back home with us. Our only desire now is to mourn our son and brother. We appreciate that the circumstances of Aaron's death and those of 88 other people in Thailand made it world news. However, we are a family in mourning and ask that the media would respect our privacy."
Doctors have said that his friend Chris Cooley is still in hospital in Phuket but is expected to make a full recovery.
Investigators have said that the possible cause of the crash is wind shear, where the wind makes a sudden change in direction or speed.
Showing posts with label One-Two-Go. Show all posts
Showing posts with label One-Two-Go. Show all posts
Monday, 24 September 2007
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Britons killed in flight to Thailand named
The eight Britons who have been confirmed dead from the Thai air accident have been named.
Tributes were paid to Neil and Helen Slater, Susan Howell, Steve Saunby, Tony and Judy Weston, Colin Denny and Alexander Collins.
Eighty nine passengers were killed on the One-Two-Go flight from Bangkok to Phuket when the pilot tried to land in bad weather.
Reports are so far blaming the pilot and faulty equipment at Phuket Airport for the accident.
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Plane crash survivor hailed a hero
British teacher Peter James Hill who survived the plane crash in Thailand has been praised for his help in pulling passengers from the wreckage.
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram visited Mr Hill in hospital and gave him grapes, flowers and £75 in Thai currency.
Mr Nitya said: "He is a hero by the way. I believed he pulled two people out at (his own) risk. He is now doing pretty well, sitting up and smiling."
Mr Hill added: "I am sure that there were acts of heroism on this flight, but not from me. I don't want to be hailed a hero. My only thought was to get off that plane."
He later said that as soon as he stepped onto the aircraft he had a bad feeling: "I saw the runway, then grass. We hit with a thud and then we hit a second time, which was the crash."
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram visited Mr Hill in hospital and gave him grapes, flowers and £75 in Thai currency.
Mr Nitya said: "He is a hero by the way. I believed he pulled two people out at (his own) risk. He is now doing pretty well, sitting up and smiling."
Mr Hill added: "I am sure that there were acts of heroism on this flight, but not from me. I don't want to be hailed a hero. My only thought was to get off that plane."
He later said that as soon as he stepped onto the aircraft he had a bad feeling: "I saw the runway, then grass. We hit with a thud and then we hit a second time, which was the crash."
Are Pilots fully trained to fly commercial aircraft?
Investigators looking into the plane crash which claimed at least 89 lives are asking the question of why the airport remained open when weather conditions were so appalling.
Survivors are also amazed that despite the pilot aborting one attempt to land they were still given permission to come in when palm trees were being bent by the strong winds.
Most of the survivors are recovering in hospital with burns and some broken bones. Ten of the dead are British and forensic experts are expected to be flown in aid the identification of the bodies.
The aircraft's black boxes have been found and sent to the US for analysis.
"Hopefully, we will learn in a few weeks the cause of the accident," transport minister Theera Haocharoen told reporters.
One survivor said:
."I saw palm trees bending back in the wind. I couldn't see how he was going to land," Mildred Furlong, a waitress from British Columbia, Canada, said. "We missed the runway first time, came back up and then tried again. We were all silent, then we suddenly hit the ground and there were screams.
"I thought I was going to die because the carriage was filled with thick black smoke and people had passed out around me. There were people burning in the plane, but the man behind me managed to kick open the exit after a few tries and I escaped through that."
Marcel Squinobal, an Austrian holidaymaker, said the plane had bounced up and down and swerved dramatically to both sides. "I don't understand why we didn't fly to Krabi and we could have taken a bus to Phuket."
John O'Donnell, from Co Clare, Ireland, said the pilot had tried to get the plane back in the air after it first hit the runway. "You can tell it was in trouble, because it kind of landed then came up again," Mr O'Donnell said from his hospital bed.
"The plane was flying around trying to land. It was making some noises and it was bad rain. There was a lot of smoke in the plane. I got out through the doors and I came out on to the wing of the plane ... I saw my friend outside. And next thing, it really caught fire, then I just got badly burned, my face, my legs, my arms."
This latest air disaster has bought into question the possibility of budget Asian airlines using sub-standard pilots. This meaning that pilots aren't fully trained to handle serious situations, and to keep up with the increase in air travel pilots who aren't used to flying commercial aircraft are being drafted in.
That certainly doesn't make me feel at ease!!
Survivors are also amazed that despite the pilot aborting one attempt to land they were still given permission to come in when palm trees were being bent by the strong winds.
Most of the survivors are recovering in hospital with burns and some broken bones. Ten of the dead are British and forensic experts are expected to be flown in aid the identification of the bodies.
The aircraft's black boxes have been found and sent to the US for analysis.
"Hopefully, we will learn in a few weeks the cause of the accident," transport minister Theera Haocharoen told reporters.
One survivor said:
."I saw palm trees bending back in the wind. I couldn't see how he was going to land," Mildred Furlong, a waitress from British Columbia, Canada, said. "We missed the runway first time, came back up and then tried again. We were all silent, then we suddenly hit the ground and there were screams.
"I thought I was going to die because the carriage was filled with thick black smoke and people had passed out around me. There were people burning in the plane, but the man behind me managed to kick open the exit after a few tries and I escaped through that."
Marcel Squinobal, an Austrian holidaymaker, said the plane had bounced up and down and swerved dramatically to both sides. "I don't understand why we didn't fly to Krabi and we could have taken a bus to Phuket."
John O'Donnell, from Co Clare, Ireland, said the pilot had tried to get the plane back in the air after it first hit the runway. "You can tell it was in trouble, because it kind of landed then came up again," Mr O'Donnell said from his hospital bed.
"The plane was flying around trying to land. It was making some noises and it was bad rain. There was a lot of smoke in the plane. I got out through the doors and I came out on to the wing of the plane ... I saw my friend outside. And next thing, it really caught fire, then I just got badly burned, my face, my legs, my arms."
This latest air disaster has bought into question the possibility of budget Asian airlines using sub-standard pilots. This meaning that pilots aren't fully trained to handle serious situations, and to keep up with the increase in air travel pilots who aren't used to flying commercial aircraft are being drafted in.
That certainly doesn't make me feel at ease!!
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Aircraft crashes on Phuket in attempt to land
At least 66 people have been killed on Phuket Island after an aircraft crashed in heavy rain whilst trying to land.
It's reported the aircraft split in two and then burst into flames.
The budget airline One-Two-Go was on a popular route from Bangkok to Phuket carrying 123 passengers and five crew.
Survivors have been describig their escape from the plane's windows as smoke began to consume the plane.
Pairnwit Chusaeng one of the survivors said: ``I saw passengers engulfed in fire as I stepped over them on way out of the plane, I was afraid that the airplane was going to explode so I ran away.''
Deputy Governor of Phuket Worapot Ratthaseema told press: ``At least 66 people have been confirmed dead and 42 have been hospitalized."
He later added that the remaining passengers are still missing.
As many as 27 of the injured passengers are thought to be Irish, Israeli, Australian and British.
One of the survivors who is Irish was badly burned on his arms, legs and back as he escaped the fire. He has told media that he knew something was wrong before the plane landed.
``You could tell when it was landing it was in trouble,'' he said. ``It was making a noise, this bang.''
It's thought the severe weather played a major part in this accident. Chaisak Angsuwan director of Air Transport Authority of Thailand said: ``The visibility was poor as the pilot attempted to land. He decided to make a go-around but the plane lost balance and crashed,'' he said. ``It was torn into two parts.''
This is the second fatal air accident since 1998 when 101 people were killed after a Thai Airways jet crashed whilst trying to land in heavy rain in Surat Thani. Forty Five people survived that incident.
Investigations continue.
It's reported the aircraft split in two and then burst into flames.
The budget airline One-Two-Go was on a popular route from Bangkok to Phuket carrying 123 passengers and five crew.
Survivors have been describig their escape from the plane's windows as smoke began to consume the plane.
Pairnwit Chusaeng one of the survivors said: ``I saw passengers engulfed in fire as I stepped over them on way out of the plane, I was afraid that the airplane was going to explode so I ran away.''
Deputy Governor of Phuket Worapot Ratthaseema told press: ``At least 66 people have been confirmed dead and 42 have been hospitalized."
He later added that the remaining passengers are still missing.
As many as 27 of the injured passengers are thought to be Irish, Israeli, Australian and British.
One of the survivors who is Irish was badly burned on his arms, legs and back as he escaped the fire. He has told media that he knew something was wrong before the plane landed.
``You could tell when it was landing it was in trouble,'' he said. ``It was making a noise, this bang.''
It's thought the severe weather played a major part in this accident. Chaisak Angsuwan director of Air Transport Authority of Thailand said: ``The visibility was poor as the pilot attempted to land. He decided to make a go-around but the plane lost balance and crashed,'' he said. ``It was torn into two parts.''
This is the second fatal air accident since 1998 when 101 people were killed after a Thai Airways jet crashed whilst trying to land in heavy rain in Surat Thani. Forty Five people survived that incident.
Investigations continue.
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