Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Emergency Plane Landing Results in One Fatality and Dozens of Injuries, and More

Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, Monday, May 20th, to Sunday, May 26th, 2024.

They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.

1. Singapore Airlines flight SQ 312 from London to Singapore made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Over 30 passengers were injured, and one passenger died. The emergency reroute was caused by severe weather conditions.

The commander of Metropolitan police division 4, publicly revealed a case of Singapore Airlines flight SQ 312, carrying 229 passengers, that suffered severe turbulence and then had an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, causing 71 injuries and one casualty.

Rest in peace to the victim of the incident.

2. Thai Senator Direkrit Jenkrongtham revealed to national media that he and 39 other senators had petitioned to impeach Mr. Pichit Chuenban, the Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, during an official visit to Japan, addressed the media regarding the Thai Constitutional Court’s decision to consider a petition against him concerning the appointment of former Minister Pichit Chuenban.

Despite the resignation of Mr. Pichit, the court case will move forward with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stating that he is confident he will be found to have made the right decision legally and that he did nothing wrong.

3. Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, the Thai Minister of Public Health, addressed the national media regarding the Prime Minister’s proposal to reclassify cannabis flowers as a type 5 narcotic illegal drug.

Pro-cannabis activists continue to protest on making cannabis buds an illegal narcotic and hope to compromise with the Minister of Public Health before any final laws, instead calling for better regulations.

4. In Udon Thani, Northeastern Thailand, a 44-year-old British man is facing charges for assaulting a gas station employee.

Mr. Davis acknowledged his intoxication and expressed remorse for his actions, offering an apology to the victim and the Thai public. He is an expat with a grown Thai child.

5. Seka police officers arrested a Belgian expat for allegedly murdering a fellow countryman with an illegal firearm and burning the victim’s body to try to conceal the evidence in Seka, Bueng Kan.

The suspect, Steve, claimed the victim had frequently demanded money, threatening to burn Steve’s residence and harm his family if he refused. In a fit of rage, Steve allegedly used a .22 caliber pistol to shoot the victim three times and then burned the corpse of the victim.

Thank you and see you next week!