Accident of a Bangkok Airways ATR72 in Samui

An accident of a Bangkok Airways aircraft occurred at Koh Samui Airport on Tuesday afternoon. The ATR 72 flight coming from Krabi skidded off the runway and crashed into the old control tower. The crash killed the flight captain and injured six passengers over a total of 72 people on board (68 passengers, 2 pilots and 2 flight attendants). Flight Captain Chartchai had been working with the company for 19 years and has piloted ATR aircraft for 14 years, according to the airline.
 
Stormy weather with heavy rain could be at the origin of the accident. All passengers on board were foreigners. All passengers have been evacuated from the site with four seriously injured passengers sent to the Bangkok Samui Hospital, and two others with minor injuries to the Thai Inter Hospital. The 62 other passengers have been transferred to hotel. The airport has been closed at 3 pm and passengers ferried by boat and then by bus to Surat Thani airport on the mainland. Thai Airways has announced to have cancelled two flights on August 4. However, the airline indicated being ready to send two special flights to transport stranded passengers once the airport reopens.
 
Samui Airport should resume its normal activity on Wednesday. Investigation will be carried on to know the exact cause of the accident according to President of Bangkok Airways Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth at a press conference. Information about passengers on board of the aircraft can be obtained at this Bangkok Airways Emergency hotline: (+66-0) 2 265 87 77.