Wind blamed for Ko Samui crash
Latest reports suggest a sudden gust of wind may have caused a Bangkok Airways plane to skid and crash as it landed on the Thai resort island of Ko Samui this week, killing its pilot.
The French-made ATR72-500 aircraft skidded off the runway as it landed on Tuesday, killing the chief pilot, Chartchai Pansuwan, and injuring 42 people.
Bangkok Airways said four passengers – one Italian, two British and one Swiss – were seriously hurt, along with the co-pilot, and most of the injured were European tourists.
The airport on the resort island resumed operations yesterday.
Investigators have removed the flight recorder from the plane. It will be sent to either the US or France where experts will try to determine the cause of the accident.
The co-pilot remains in critical condition at Bangkok Hospital and will undergo surgery on his chest and abdomen, according to the Phuket Gazette.
Another survivor, British woman Claire Ballantyne, said good safety measures at Samui airport allowed officials to quickly contain a fire on the aircraft before it spread.
Report from Travelmole Asia
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt