In aviation, safety must come first

Last Wednesday’s plane crash in the Mekong River in Laos’ southern Champasak province is a loud wake-up call not only for the Lao aviation industry but also for the region. Airlines and relevant authorities need to focus more attention and resources on safety and rescue operations.

The relatives of the 49 passengers and crew members who died in the crash deserve condolences as well as proper compensation for their losses.

The Lao authorities and the airline did well in responding quickly to the accident. Thailand also deserves credit for its timely assistance. Bangkok did not wait for a request for help, not merely because Thais were among the victims but because Laos is our neighbour and friend. Still, rescue teams have complained that the effort was difficult. Manpower was available, but more equipment and expertise were badly needed to recover the bodies and debris essential for an investigation into the cause of the accident.

The crash of the ATR 72-600 was the most serious in Lao aviation history. Laos has little air traffic, yet accidents have been reported every 3-4 years on average since 1975, according to the Aviation Safety Network. Previously, ageing aircraft or bad weather was blamed for accidents involving Soviet-era planes – the Antonov, Yakovlev or Harbin Yunshuji Y-12-II. No one died in these incidents, and in most there was no serious damage.

Last week’s accident involved a French ATR-72 that was relatively new, only just added to the Lao fleet last March. The plane is considered reliable and is well known to people who fly regularly in Laos.

Various factors can cause a plane crash, including technical error, human error, or airport or weather conditions. In this case a full investigation is pending, so we cannot rush to judgement. No one should point fingers at any particular factor.

Whatever the cause, it’s a reminder that safety must be top priority, and that safety standards must be maintained at the highest level at all times. It is the responsibility of every party in the aviation industry to maintain and improve safety standards. All equipment deemed necessary for safe operations must be installed in all aircraft and at airports. Regular training for air-traffic controllers and other staff must be conducted.

Budget constraints and pleas of poverty should not be an excuse for Laos to avoid investing in safety measures. And this applies to all countries. Asean member-countries and their neighbours have a clear obligation to help each other in ensuring all safety precautions are in place. This is where the region’s wealthier nations can assist those less well off. Flight QV 301 was a domestic flight, but the accident is not just a domestic affair for Laos, since there were foreign passengers onboard. Tourism is on the rise in Laos, and the number of foreign visitors taking internal flights is only going to increase. 

Laos has a responsibility to ensure that its aviation safety standards are up to scratch, but if it requires assistance to do so, then that assistance should be forthcoming from across Southeast Asia.

It is time for the region to implement a comprehensive plan to improve aviation safety, emergency response and rescue standards.