Passengers aboard Nok Air flight DD176 experienced sheer terror on December 30, when their plane attempted—and failed—takeoff not once, but twice at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, reported the Post. The ordeal unfolded just a day after the devastating Jeju Air crash involving the same model, a Boeing 737-800, that claimed 179 lives in South Korea, adding a chilling layer to the unfolding drama.
Narongsak Toyabut, a passenger who filmed the harrowing moments, described the chaos. “The first attempt raised concerns when the engines stalled,” he said. But the second attempt brought full-blown panic. “The engine sounded wrong. The plane sped past the usual takeoff point but didn’t lift. By the second hangar, it suddenly slowed. That’s when we knew something was terribly wrong.”
With passengers gripping their seats in fear, the captain announced an engine malfunction and taxied back to the terminal. Toyabut, still visibly shaken, said, “It’s hard to explain the terror. I’m thankful the captain didn’t push the flight. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened mid-air.”
Nok Air scrambled to control the fallout, issuing a statement: “Passenger safety is our priority. The aircraft underwent inspection, and a replacement plane was provided, delaying the flight to 7:20 pm. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
The timing of this incident couldn’t be more haunting. Just a day earlier, Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan, South Korea, erupted into flames after hitting an embankment during an emergency landing. Investigators are piecing together why the landing gear failed to deploy and what led the pilot to attempt a second landing after reporting a bird strike.
For passengers aboard DD176, the close call felt like a brush with fate. The unsettling coincidence of back-to-back incidents involving the Boeing 737-800 leaves travelers questioning the skies and the safeguards meant to protect them.
