Transport officials are threatening lengthy prison sentences for those found guilty of breaching aviation safety laws, as they look to curb the release of hot-air lanterns and bang fai rockets.
POTENTIAL DISASTER: A picture from a man claiming to be an airport employee has been circulated online allegedly showing parts of a hot-air lantern in the engine of an A320.
The warning followed the grounding on Thursday of a Bangkok Airways Airbus A320 at Chiang Mai airport after a lantern was discovered inside one of its engine turbines.
Gp Capt Wisut Janthana, director of the airport, said the paper lantern was sucked into the engine when the aircraft was taxiing after landing. “If that had happened while the aircraft was taking off, it could have resulted in very dangerous consequences,” he said.
The incident prompted Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong to order a study of ways to prevent potential aviation accidents caused by lanterns and bang fai rockets.
The minister stressed the need for more stringent law enforcement against activities that may affect aviation safety, said deputy permanent secretary for transport Woradech Harnprasert. Mr Woradech said the threat to aircraft was growing more significant as lantern floating and bang fai rocket firing move away from their traditional roots to become popular year-round entertainment activities.
A source at the Transport Ministry said officials have been told to strictly enforce laws designed to prevent an aviation tragedy by cracking down on activities that disrupt aviation operations.
These activities also include the illegal broadcast of community radio waves, the source said.
Under 1978 legislation which governs aviation safety, anyone found to have carried out activities deemed a threat to aircraft faces a prison sentence of between five to 20 years.
In more serious cases, life imprisonment or even the death sentence can be applied, the source said.
Somchai Phiphutthawat, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation, said the department will sign an agreement with relevant organisations, including the Interior Ministry and National Police Office, in the coming week. They will be looking to better regulate the release of lanterns, especially during major festivals.
Under one proposal, only a specific size of lantern made from fireproof materials would be allowed, and their release would be limited to specific times and locations, Mr Somchai said.
The maximum size of lanterns should not exceed one cubic metre and should contain no more than 55 grammes of fuel capable of burning no longer than eight minutes, he said.
Chiang Mai deputy governor Chana Phaengphibul said provincial authorities were looking at ways to regulate lantern floating activities.
He said the city is planning to seek support from the local Tourism Authority office to ensure tour guides, restaurants and hotels comply with any new regulations.
Pornchai Jitnawasathian, president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, said a meeting would be held to discuss measures to control lantern releases in an effort to boost public confidence in aviation standards.
It comes as a falling lantern triggered a major fire which destroyed the single-storey home of a family in Chaing Rai’s Mae Chan district late on Friday night.
Prasong Uraiwan, chief of Mae Chan district office, said the incident should encourage people to think more deeply about the potential dangers of releasing lanterns. The local administration organisation was helping to find a new home for the family.