The Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai international airport has resumed normal operations today (Friday) after its closure last Saturday. The first flight will be Thai Vietjet Air, scheduled to arrive from Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok at 6pm, followed by a return flight to Bangkok at 7.55pm.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) granted permission for the airport to resume operations from 10.30pm last night, after approving all the repair work and the physical condition of the airport.
The airport detailed, in a press release, the work done prior to the resumption of operations.
-Adjusting the level of the area where the Nok Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft skidded off the runway on last Saturday.
-Clearing of all foreign object debris (FOD) from the runway with a walking inspection.
-Maintenance of electrical systems damaged in the accident and testing of the systems to make sure they work to the required standard.
-Maintenance of the concrete around a manhole near the runway, so it will not pose a threat to aircraft.
-Checking of the surface of the runway, which had been damaged by heavy equipment used to move the Nok Air plane.
-Conducting friction tests on the runway.
Normally, the Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai international airport accommodates 36 flights a day, with between 4,000-5,000 passengers using the services.
The Nok Air flight from Bangkok was carrying 164 passengers and 6 crew when it arrived at the Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai international airport last Saturday night. It skidded off the runway in heavy rain while it was taxing towards its parking bay. No one was hurt in the incident.
The operation to remove the stranded aircraft was completed at about 4am yesterday.
Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service