Thai crash pilot broke landing rule

Thai crash pilot broke landing rule

BANGKOK (AFP): The pilot of the Thai Airways jet which crashed killing 101 people apparently flouted a vital safety rule by trying a third landing attempt in a violent storm.

The Airbus 310-200, which crashed on Friday in a storm in southern Thailand, made two unsuccessful landing attempts before the pilot embarked on the fatal third try.

The pilot told passengers twice that he was having trouble seeing the runway as the storm lashed Surat Thani Airport, some of the 45 survivors said.

According to the airline's flight manual, multiple attempts to land should only be made if bad weather conditions lift.

Air traffic control officials at Surat Thani airport said the pilot was kept fully informed of weather conditions throughout the flight from Bangkok. The tape reportedly includes a conversation in which the pilot said he was blinded by driving rain.