September 17, 2009
LONDON (AFP) - The parents of two Britons who died in a plane crash in Thailand warned other travellers Wednesday of the dangers of flying on airlines blacklisted in Europe.
Alex Collins and Bethan Jones, both 22, were killed when a plane operated by budget airline One-Two-Go crashed on approach to landing in the Thai resort of Phuket exactly two years ago, killing 90 passengers and crew.
In a joint anniversary statement, Jean and Steve Jones and Margaret and Richard Collins said: "No parent should ever have to go through the nightmare of losing a child in such a devastating way.
"We firmly believe this accident was preventable. The European Commission absolutely did the right thing in naming and shaming One-Two-Go Airlines," they added.
The European Commission, the European Union's executive arm, added One-Two-Go to its blacklist of airlines banned from the 27-nation EU after the crash, although it has since been removed.
But the parents of Collins and Jones -- who were embarking on the trip of a lifetime in Asia when they died on the Bangkok to Phuket flight -- said others should be made more aware of the dangers of blacklisted airlines.
"At this time, many families will have their student children travelling abroad, and Thailand is a very popular destination for British families," they said.
"Our message to those families is very clear: at all costs do not fly on any airline that has been on the EU blacklist, or is associated with an airline that has been named or shamed.
"Very few people are aware of this EU blacklist and we want to raise awareness of its importance, and the fact that it has and will save lives.
"Tragically this comes too late to have saved the lives of Bethan and Alex and the other 88 who died in this disaster."
The One-Two-Go aircraft skidded off the runway as it landed in heavy rain and strong winds, before exploding into flames.
The EU blacklist -- available on the European Commission's website at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf -- is dominated by African airlines, but also includes a few in Asia and former Soviet states.
