Plane crash news
20/09/2007
Survivor of Phuket tragedy reveals crash horror

A woman who survived the recent Thai aeroplane crash with little more than whiplash injuries has revealed how she owes her life to the bravery of another passenger.

The 23-year-old Canadian, a waitress who was on holiday, was one of 41 people who survived the horrific smash which claimed the lives of 89 others near the popular holiday resort of Phuket.

The plane burst into flames after crashing while attempting to land in high winds and smoke quickly filled the fuselage. Many of the passengers were killed but the Canadian woman was one of the lucky ones.

Talking to the media from her hospital bed, she relived the terrifying plane crash, saying, "The guy behind me was kicking at the emergency door. He was kicking and kicking and it wasn't opening.

"There were flames all around and there were people on fire. The smoke was everywhere. I thought, a couple more seconds and we're all going to be dead.

"But he kicked through and got it open. I don't know who he was but he saved a lot of people's lives."

A number of people are still in hospital in Thailand as a result of the plane crash and are being treated for a range of personal injuries including burns and broken bones.

Expert investigators have been despatched to the scene of the incident and are trying to discover the cause of the tragic crash.

The airline operating the fateful flight have also revealed how they plan to provide injury compensation to all those involved in the September 16th accident.