Budget airline Nok Air will investigate a comment posted on a Line app chat group by a pilot after he learned that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was one of the passengers shortly before takeoff on Sunday.
The captured image of group chat was rapidly circulated on social media, along with an image of Ms Yingluck saying she was taking a Nok Air flight from Phrae back to Bangkok on Sunday afternoon.
One person in the chat group commented “there is a victim on board”. Another person commented “cfit Navin”.
The “cfit” comment caused wide debate on social media. In aviation parlance it means "controlled flight into terrain" - an accident in which an airworthy aircraft, under pilot control, is intentionally flown into the ground, a mountain, a body of water.
Supporters to Ms Yingluck, particularly acting Pheu Thai Party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai, urged Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin to take responsibility for such a comment.
Chusak Sirinil, the party's chief legal adviser, was also on the flight with Ms Yingluck. He said although the comment was made in fun, pilots had an ethical and professional responsibility to their passengers. When on duty they were responsible for passengers’ safety, and should not put their emotions before their duty. He was waiting for a reaction from the airline and the Department of Aviation.
Ms Yingluck’s nephew Panthongtae Shinawatra posted on his Facebook page that the group chat by the pilot of one airline was posted at 3.33pm, which was only 12 minutes before the scheduled departure of Ms Yingluck's flight.
At that time the pilots should have been concentrating on preflight checks to ensure maximum safety for the passengers. It was unacceptable that pilots should be making fun of passengers' safety at that time.
Mr Patee issued a statement on Sunday night acknowledging the comments were inappropriate.
The airline treated all passengers equally. The message shown via social media was a personal opinion. The airline management disagreed with such actions and would investigate the matter to get to the truth.
Mr Patee apologised to Ms Yingluck and for the inappropriate actions of its pilots.
Mr Patee said on Monday morning that employees were entitled to their personal opinions, but should refrain from expressing political opinions while on duty.
Nok Air did not have any political stance and when working all staff should concentrate on doing their job properly, serving passengers and ensuring they arrived safely at their destination.
“As the chief executive, I cannot accept anything that damages the airline’s image. I truly apologise to Ms Yingluck. We are proud she uses our service,” he said.
Ms Yingluck thanked Mr Patee for pursuing the case for her and all passengers in a post on her Facebook page on Monday afternoon.
She said it was already a good thing that she and her son had arrived home safely. However, she would like to raise this case as an example that people should not mix personal attitude with work, particularly in a case such as this that involved the safety of passengers and their property – which was key to the business.
She hoped there would be no other similar cases involving her or other passengers in the future, so the airline could inspire confidence in its professional service.
Ms Yingluck at Phrae airport before boarding the Nok Air flight to Bangkok on Sunday. (Photo from her Facebook page)