Thread: One killed and another injured when plane collided with aircraft tug

The driver of an aircraft tug was killed and another person seriously injured when a cable, which was being used to tow Nok Air aircraft snapped.


The accident took place on the apron of Don Mueang airport this morning.


Airport director, Mr. Samphan Khuthranont, said that the driver of the tug was towing a plane, to be used for Nok Air flight DD6458 to Nakhon Si Thammarat, to its correct ramp for passenger boarding, but the cable broke, so the driver stopped the tug. The aircraft, however, continued moving and collided with it, fatally wounding the driver and injuring a ground mechanic, identified as Mr. Thanisorn Oncha-am.


Both were rushed to hospital, but Thanisorn was later pronounced dead.


The plane was replaced, causing the flight to Nakhon Si Thammarat to be delayed for about one hour.

One killed and another injured when plane collided with aircraft tug – Thai PBS World

I would wonder if he got between the aircraft and the tug and tried to stop the plane from hitting it

but the real question would be why was a cable being used and not a tow bar

was a cable being used and not a tow bar

this is thailand, they were probably using a tow rope made up of old underpants and plastic string.

^good question...but even towbars have shear pins and have been known to detach. That's why there is a safety man in the cockpit to apply the parking brake. Towing without the safety man in the cockpit?

Originally Posted by Troy

without the safety

Amazing Thailand , where nothing is learned from mistakes.

Nothing to buckle up, enjoy the ride and scream if you wanna go faster.

Originally Posted by misskit

... the driver stopped the tug....

So the excuse can't have been the usual one?

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

So the excuse can't have been the usual one?

Don't be too fast. Maybe the plane's brakes failed.

Originally Posted by misskit

so the driver stopped the tug. The aircraft, however, continued moving

Looks like a tie bar was used, the guy stopped quite abruptly but the plane didn't...damn inertia indeed.

Looks like he might have been sucked up into the engine. Eewww

When towing aircraft if the towbar shear pin breaks you are taught to accelerate away.

Most large airports use the remote tugs these days.

RIP buddy

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Looks like he might have been sucked up into the engine. Eewww

Not even Thais would tow with engines running...

looked like he turned sharply - on his mobile and missed his exit