PHUKET: -- The role of the Indonesian pilot and air traffic controllers during the heavy rainstorm prior to the crash of flight OG 269 at Phuket Airport on Sunday came under intense scrutiny yesterday as authorities began their investigation into the tragedy that claimed 89 lives.

Initial assessments pointed to a possible misjudgement by the pilot as a major cause of the crash.

However the real cause would be determined by the two black box flight recorders which will be sent to the United States for analysis in the nest two days.

Chaisak Angsuwan, director-general of the Air Transport Department, said the voice and flight data recorders of the One-Two-Go OG 269 flight were dug out of the charred debris of the plane yesterday. He expected the results of the analysis from the US would be available within next week.

The Transportation Ministry yesterday also set up an investigative team to find the cause of the accident which claimed 89 lives, including 55 foreigners.

"The objective is to seek the real reason and to prevent it happening again," said Chaisak, who is also deputy chairman of the investigative team.

The OG 269 was carrying 123 passengers and seven crew, including the pilot and co-pilot, from Bangkok to Phuket when it slammed into the runway in driving wind and rain. The plane then caught fire and engulfed most of the passengers in flames.

A source at the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai), which oversees air traffic control in the country, said the traffic controllers at Phuket International Airport had informed the pilot about the bad weather conditions.

"The final decision on whether to land was made by the pilot, we only gave him the conditions," said the source who asked not to be named.

According to the source, besides the heavy rain and bad visibility, there was 30-knot crosswind at the airport at the very moment the plane attempted to landing.

"It was a very strong crosswind. The pilot should not have landed," said the source.

The bad weather conditions in Phuket on Sunday were confirmed by the Meteorological Department. Chamnong Jitphakdee, director of southern meteorological office, who said that Phuket was affected by severe storms around 3pm and he had to update the traffic control tower every 30 minutes.

Chaisak, who is also chairman of Aerothai, reckoned the pilot of OG 269 might have thought the landing would not a problem as another aircraft, also belonging to Orient Thai airlines, had landed just minutes before.

Chaisak said he was informed the OG 269 pilot had tried to land twice.

On the second attempt, he said, the pilot again informed air traffic control that he would go round again.

"It happened very fast. Just minutes after he talked to the traffic controllers, the plane crashed as it lost balance and the fuselage tilted to the right," said Chaisak, adding that the landing gear "was not down" when it crashed heavily on the runway.

However, some passengers said the landing gear was lowered to prepare for landing because the plane had skidded off the runway. Some witnesses said they heard a series of explosions before the plane crashed.

Chaisak admitted that he heard a conversation between the pilot and air traffic controllers which was recorded by air traffic controllers. However, he hadn't released the recording, saying there was "nothing special" about the conversation.

"It was just normal conversation that every pilot has when talking to air traffic controllers before landing," he said.

Udom Tantiprasongchai, founder and chairman of Orient Thai Airlines, which own One-Two-Go, said it was too early to point the finger at the pilot.

"He is chief of the One-Two-Go's pilots with long term experience flying passenger planes," he said referred to the Indonesian pilot "Ariff", as many Indonesians use only one name.

Udom said all parties should wait for the results of the black boxes.

"I've heard someone questions about why we use an Indonesian pilot. I beg you all not to focus on the nationality of any pilot. The most important thing is their skill and experience," he said.

Ariff, an experienced passenger pilot with several Indonesian airlines, had reportedly worked with One-Two-go for almost three years and had flown to Phuket many times, said Udom.

A source from Aerothai said all air traffic controllers stationed at Phuket airport when the crash took place have been temporarily moved to ground staff positions.

"From the control tower they saw everything and broke into tears the moment the plane crashed," said the source.

Kanit Phromsatit, a pilot with THAI Airways, said the judgement of a pilot when landing in bad weather condition was crucial and admitted that Phuket Airport was a difficult place to land being encircled by mountains.

"The plane had been is use for 12 years. Normally, any plane should have at least 15 years good service," he said.

-- The Nation 2007-09-18