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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Death Toll at 88 in Thai Air Crash

Survivor says plane tried to land too fast in torrential rain

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(Newser) – The death toll has risen to 88 in the crash of a budget airliner on a Thai island resort today, Reuters reports. Officials said the plane broke up and burst into flames as it tried to land in torrential rain.The 42 survivors are being treated for a variety of injuries, and at least one said he thought the plane descended too fast.

"The inside was on fire and about five minutes of burning, there was a small explosion that blew off the top of the plane," said one witness. The crash will prompt new questions about safety in the burgeoning budget airline industry, though analysts insist that there is no evidence to suggest low-cost carriers are more dangerous than traditional airlines.

Thai forensic workers walk amongst bodies being stored at Phuket airport Thailand on Sunday Sept. 16. 2007. A plane carrying many foreign tourists to one of Thailand's most popular resort islands crashed while landing in torrential rains Sunday, killing at least 87 people and injuring 43, officials said. (AP Photo/Sakchai...
Thai forensic workers walk amongst bodies being stored at Phuket airport Thailand on Sunday Sept. 16. 2007. A plane carrying many foreign tourists to one of Thailand's most popular resort islands crashed...   (Associated Press)
The wreckage of a One-Two-Go passenger plane sits on the side of the runway after it crashed while attempting to land at Phuket International Airport Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007 in Phuket, southern Thailand. A passenger plane filled with foreign tourists crashed Sunday in heavy rain on Thailand's tourist island of...
The wreckage of a One-Two-Go passenger plane sits on the side of the runway after it crashed while attempting to land at Phuket International Airport Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007 in Phuket, southern Thailand....   (Associated Press)
Relatives of a victim of the crash cry at Phuket airport, Thailand Sunday Sept. 16, 2007. A plane carrying many foreign tourists to one of Thailand's most popular resort islands crashed while landing in torrential rains Sunday, killing at least 87 people and injuring 43, officials said.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Relatives of a victim of the crash cry at Phuket airport, Thailand Sunday Sept. 16, 2007. A plane carrying many foreign tourists to one of Thailand's most popular resort islands crashed while landing...   (Associated Press)
A relative weeps while talking on a cell phone in Phuket, Thailand on Sunday Sept 16 2007. A plane carrying many foreign tourists to one of Thailand's most popular resort islands crashed while landing in torrential rains Sunday, killing at least 87 people and injuring 43, officials said.(AP Photo/Sakchai...
A relative weeps while talking on a cell phone in Phuket, Thailand on Sunday Sept 16 2007. A plane carrying many foreign tourists to one of Thailand's most popular resort islands crashed while landing...   (Associated Press)
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