TG679 Guangzhou-Bangkok experienced incident while landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport.14 passengers were slightly injured and sent to hospital.
— Thai Airways (@ThaiAirways) September 8, 2013 [3]
But it was the airline decision to cover [4] the plane logo with a black paint in an apparent bid to protect its image which made the global headlines. The airline claimed that it was standard “crisis communication rule”. However, the global airline network Star Alliance denied that it has a policy of covering up plane logos during accidents:
Regarding the painting over of logos on the aircraft of @ThaiAirways [5] flight 679. This is not in line with @staralliance [6] crisis (1/2)
— Star Alliance (@staralliance) September 9, 2013 [7]
guidelines. It would appear that the official quoted was misinformed. (2/2)
— Star Alliance (@staralliance) September 9, 2013 [8]
This was subsequently confirmed by Thai Airways
2. Thai Air statement contd: “…the Company also clarifies that it is NOT a Star Alliance policy or procedure to de-identify aircraft.”
— Newley Purnell (@newley) September 9, 2013 [9]
This video [11] was taken after the landing accident:
Below are some reactions on Twitter
I bet @ThaiAirways [5] is now regretting painting over their logo. These days with social media, airlines cannot get away with that anymore.
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) September 10, 2013 [12]
@RichardBarrow [13] @ThaiAirways [5] best approach, has always worked for me, don’t crash your planes. That way you save on black paint.
— Stuart McDonald (@travelfish) September 10, 2013 [14]
Blocking out the airline logo little help to travellers who now face delays at airport until Wednesday. http://t.co/Wa8tKsw35t [15]
— Justin Barnett (@beemababy) September 10, 2013 [16]
@staralliance [6] How could they be misinformed? Maybe pre-alliance crisis guidelines? I'm not saying what they did was wrong, just strange
— Agust Beaumont (@Saragermen) September 9, 2013 [17]
Some passengers have complained [18] that they received little assistance from airline personnel after the accident. But airline officials have denied [19] this accusation.