Thai PM assures world on air safety, Phuket airport reopens

Bangkok, Sep 17 (UNI) Thailand observes international air safety standards, prime minister Surayud Chulanont said today, before leaving for Phuket where a low-cost Thai flight crashed yesterday killing 90 people.

Accompanied by Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram, the Prime Minister reached Phuket in a military aircraft which became the first to land after the airport reopened this afternoon following Thailand's worst air crash in a decade.

Earlier, Mr Surayud met relatives of some of the victims and assured a probe would begin into the accident following the recovery of the two flight recorders from the Mc-Donnel Douglas MD-82 aircraft operated by Thai budget carrier One-Two-Go.

The victims include 55 foreigners, mainly from North America, West Europe and Australia. A few Iranians are among the injured being treated in Phuket hospitals.

Although a final official confirmation from Thai authorities is still awaited, the Indian embassy here has virtually ruled out the possibility of Indians having been on the flight.

UNI