A Lao Airlines aeroplane
Lao Airlines flight reportedly crashed into the Mekong
River, killing everyone on board
16 October 2013
A Lao Airlines flight has crashed in the south-east Asian
nation, apparently killing all 49 people aboard, including passengers from 11
countries, the Lao government said.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which operates
the airline as a state enterprise, said 44 passengers and five crew members
were aboard flight QV301 from the Lao capital, Vientiane, to Pakse in the
country's south. Earlier reports had said there were 39 passengers on board.
"Upon preparing to land at Pakse Airport the aircraft
ran into extreme bad weather conditions and was reportedly crashed into the
Mekong River," the ministry said in a statement.
It said there was no word of survivors. The airline flies an
ATR 72-600 twin-engine turboprop plane on the 290 mile route. The aircraft is
configured with 68-74 seats, said maker ATR.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said his
country's embassy in Vientiane was informed that the plane crashed about four
from the airport at Pakse.
A passenger manifest faxed by the airline listed 44 people:
17 Lao, seven French, five Australians, five Thais, three Koreans, two
Vietnamese and one person each from Canada, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and the
United States. Korean, French and Thai officials confirmed the totals for their
nationalities.
The Lao government said the airline "is taking all
necessary steps to coordinate and dispatch all rescue units to the accident
site in the hope of finding survivors".
However, a statement from Australia's Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade said: "Lao authorities have told our embassy in
Vientiane they do not expect any survivors."
The Lao transport ministry statement said the crash is being
investigated and the airline hoped to announce its findings later. A Lao
Airlines employee contacted by phone at Vientiane's Wattay airport said a news
conference would be held.
The aircraft's maker, ATR, issued a statement from its
headquarters in Toulouse, France, declaring that it will provide full
assistance under international aviation rules to the investigation of the
crash, working with the French safety investigation body. It said the Lao
Airlines plane had been delivered from the production line in March this year.
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8 comments:
I don't believe it caused by the wheather, with technic or pipot, yes.
Who will pay the dead security for those 43 Pax?
They should not fly in bad to severe wearther. They could have check the weather on the airplane resar first. Or they can hold in different place or divert to order airport.
Very sad day for the Laotian. My condolences to the family that are affected. RIP
Sad day, but if Hun Sen and Hun Manet are on the plane. It would be a joyiest day for the world and for the Cambodian people!
8.21 agree! It would be the best for the whole nation. Hun sen family is the burden for the country.
Yes if Hun Sen & his family or cronies ONLY it would be good for Cambodia but in this case it would be bad because innocent peoples are on board. I really not a fan of Youn, Siam and Laotian because these countries are thieves stolen most of our territories centuries ago. I heard Hun Sen said that Khmer government during border negotiation Khmer side ask Laotian if they can allow those poor Khmer lived near Laos border to use water for drinking, fishing, farming. These Laotian are mean spirits REFUSED TO ALLOW POOR KHMERS ALONG THE BORDER TO USE WATER. Khmers had to make long trips deeper Khmer territory to find water. Laos territories are our ancestors land centuries ago, yet they don't even allow us to use water to drink & farm. Did you guy know these Laotian are about to build two large dams on the Mekong River close to Cambodia border deprive us further for water resources. These neighbors don't have any sympathy for us Khmer people.
Although I still felt sympathy for it's peoples as fellow human being. My sorrow for lost of these peoples.
Will someone fly with this airline one again? For me bye bye.
Six of my fellow australians passed away on this plane :'-( I want to cry..
May they rest in peace <3
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