A Nok Air captain, who has been dismissed following Sunday's strike, defended pilots' decision to stop working saying the move was aimed at ensuring passenger safety Sanit Khongphet said on a Tuesday TV programme on Channel 3 that seven captains who are being probed over their cancellation of nine flights on Sunday only followed ethical standards because it was"better to have passengers wait on ground than take them to death. He did not say exactly why he thought the airline was unsafe. Nok Air pilots went on strike on Sunday, resulting in the cancellation of nine flights. Hundreds of travellers were stranded at Don Mueang airport. Mr Sanit, also former manager for aviation standards, said he has an explanation that would clarify the Sunday incident and warned Patee Sarasin, chief executive of Nok Air, against receiving one-sided information.