Another Incident with That Plane... Two Failed Takeoffs in Thailand a Day After Jeju Air Disaster

Thai LCC Nok Air Passenger Plane
Returns to Terminal After Failed Takeoff Attempt

A low-cost carrier (LCC) aircraft in Thailand attempted to take off twice at Bangkok airport but failed both times and eventually returned to the terminal. This aircraft is the same model as the Jeju Air passenger plane that crashed at Muan International Airport.

On the 2nd (local time), foreign media including the New York Post reported that on the 30th of last month at 4:45 PM, Nok Air flight DD176, heading from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok to Nakhon Airport, failed to take off twice and then disembarked passengers from the plane. This aircraft is a Boeing 737-800 (B738), the same model as the Jeju Air disaster that resulted in 179 deaths the previous day.

Boeing 737-800 aircraft owned by Nok Air. Nok Air website

During the first takeoff attempt, the aircraft accelerated down the runway but suddenly slowed down. The plane returned to the runway and attempted a second takeoff, but abnormal engine noise occurred, prompting the captain to abort the takeoff. A passenger said, "During the second attempt, it looked like the plane could take off, but the engine noise was strangely loud," adding, "The plane passed the usual takeoff point but did not lift properly and suddenly slowed down and changed direction." A video taken inside the cabin at the time of the incident shows the plane accelerating down the runway to take off but then slowing down, with the aircraft shaking significantly once. Because of this, passengers gripped their seats tightly, becoming very tense and fearful.

Afterward, the captain informed passengers of an engine malfunction and turned the nose of the plane back to the terminal for inspection. The passenger said, "Those who were not there cannot understand how frightening the situation was," and added, "It was really fortunate that the captain did not force the takeoff. I don't want to imagine what could have happened if the plane had stalled in the air."

The incident caused the flight to be delayed by about three hours, and passengers used alternative flights. Nok Air issued an official statement saying, "The pilot discovered a technical problem and canceled the takeoff," adding, "All decisions were made with safety as the top priority." They further stated, "A thorough inspection was conducted before returning the aircraft to service, and a replacement aircraft was deployed to resume operations at 7:20 PM."

Meanwhile, there are a total of 101 Boeing 737-800 series aircraft operating domestically. On the 31st of last month, Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Strategy and Finance, announced regarding the Muan Jeju Air passenger plane disaster, "Special safety inspections are being conducted on six airlines that operate the same model as the accident aircraft." The airlines operating this model include major low-cost carriers (LCCs) such as Jin Air, T'way Air, Eastar Jet, Air Incheon, as well as Korean Air.