Thailand’s Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI) has issued a statement clarifying the incident involving flight TG029 on the Ubon Ratchathani – Suvarnabhumi Airport route after information shared on social media raised questions regarding the actions of air traffic control (ATC) officers.
Mr Surachai Nooprom, Acting President of AEROTHAI, stated that an internal investigation found another aircraft operating on a parallel runway experienced a technical issue and was unable to land as planned. As a result, ATC was required to manage separation between the two aircraft in accordance with international safety standards before permitting TG029 to continue its approach.
However, during the landing phase, the pilots of TG029 determined that the aircraft was in an “Unstabilized Approach” condition below 1,000 feet. The crew therefore decided to perform a Go Around in line with standard international aviation safety procedures, which resulted in a delay to the flight.
AEROTHAI emphasised that landing clearance is not determined solely by the aircraft’s position, but through coordination between pilots and ATC while considering runway readiness, aircraft separation, weather conditions, and the stability of the approach. If pilots determine that landing conditions are unsafe, they are fully authorised to initiate a Go Around, which is considered a normal safety procedure throughout the global aviation industry.
The organisation also reaffirmed that the actions of ATC personnel during the incident complied fully with international aviation regulations, procedures, and safety standards, while stressing that passenger and flight safety remains the highest priority of Thailand’s aviation system.