THAI TG476 Flight makes early landing in Bali

BANGKOK, August 13 (TNA) - A Thai Airways International (THAI) flight, TG476, has reported a cracked cockpit glass window, while being enroute from Sydney to Bangkok, prompting its pilot to seek an early landing in Bali with all passengers and crew members on board reportedly safe. THAI Vice President for Aviation Safety, Security and Standard Squadron Leader Pongpeera Paisalkulwong told journalists on Wednesday that the Boeing 747 plane of the national flag carrier departed from Sydney in Australia at 10am on August 12 (local time) with 273 passengers and 21 crew members. But about six hours afterwards, Squadron Leader Pongpeera said, its pilot found a crack in a right cockpit window and sought permission to land at Bali's Denpasar International Airport in Indonesia, the nearest airport, at 4:52pm (local time), the action of which complied with international aviation safety standards. According to the THAI vice president, all the passengers of the aircraft were accommodated in Bali and were boarding another plane serving the same route from Sydney via Bali to Bangkok to reach Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 8:10am on August 13. The new flight was scheduled to leave Sydney at 10am (local time), reach Denpasar at 2:30pm (local time) and depart from the Bali Airport at 5:05pm (local time). THAI pilots and mechanics have, meanwhile, left for Denpasar to examine the damage and replace the window. (TNA)