Nok Air have issued a groveling apology to former PM Yingluck Shinawatra after pilots joked they would fly her into the ground
BANGKOK: — A smiling picture of Yingluck and her team at Prae airport had earlier been pictured on a Line app for pilots with the teasing caption.
“There’s a victim on board!” It then referred to the technical jargon of CFIT (controlled flight into terrain) that effectively means crashing the plane into the ground.
A young relative of the former PM Sand (Chayika) Wongnaphachan who was in the party flying to Bangkok after a visit to Prae said: “Do they think it is funny to joke about the safety of passengers on their flights? And I would also like to know what the executives are going to do about it?”
Nok Air groveled in apology but it was not reported what action they intend to take.
The airline said:”We would like to apologize profusely on behalf of our pilots to Yingluck Shinawatra for the inappropriate comments. We are a law abiding and responsible airline that gives all our passengers the best possible service.”
They distanced themselves from the comments saying they did not represent the feelings of Nok Air in any way.
Phumitham Wetyachai a Pheu Thai party official also on the flight was another who had not seen the funny side of the comments: “It was a real shock to be viewed as a victim rather than a customer – so they intended to crash the plane to hurt those bringing them custom and revenue?”
“How can they use passengers’ safety as a source of fun and amusement?,” he added.
CFIT according to Wikipedia is an accident in which an aircraft, under pilot control is unintentionally flown into the ground, a mountain, a body of water or obstacle. In a typical CFIT (usually pronounced CEEFIT) scenario the crew is unaware of the impending disaster until it is too late.
The caption had appeared with the photo of the smiling group of the PM and her entourage. It was posted in a group of employees described as assistants to pilots.
