Phuket haze diverts, delays 5 flights
Three flights bound for Phuket were forced by worsening to divert to Bangkok Thursday, while another two had to circle repeatedly until visibility improved.
Katekavia, a charter airline, from Kemorovo in Russia, rerouted to Suvarnabhumi airport at 6.24am instead of making its planned arrival in Phuket, while flights by Nok Air and Thai AirAsia from Don Mueang to the island were forced to return to Bangkok at 7.23am and 7.55am respectively.
A Silk Air flight from Singapore had to wait for 75 minutes to land at 9.14am and a Jetstar Asia Airways circled Phuket for 25 minutes before landing six minutes later.
Phuket airport general manager Monrudee Gettuphan said the flights affected by haze, prompting the airport to alert the pilots of visibility of only 200 metres.
Tinnagorn Choowong, an executive vice president for Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, said the warning was lifted at 9am as the haze dissipated.
Phuket is one of the hard hit provinces by haze from Indonesia and Indonesian ambassador to Thailand ambassador Lutfi Rauf was called in on Thursday to talk with the Foreign Ministry over the issue.