New Zealand to send Hercules military plane to Asia for stranded New Zealanders
2/12/2008 15:54
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key today ordered the air force to send a
Hercules to Malaysia to be on stand-by to help New Zealanders stranded in
Thailand.
Some 200 New Zealanders have been stranded for a week after
anti-government group People's Alliance for Democracy took control of
Suvarnabhumi international airport and Don Muang airport, a big domestic
hub.
The C-130 Hercules will leave New Zealand at about 8:30 p.m. New Zealand
time today (0730 GMT) for Malaysia to stand-by for possible evacuation flights.
The plane can carry about 65 passengers per flight.
Key said the government
still believed commercial routes are the best option for New Zealander's trying
to leave Bangkok, as there are risks moving people around the country.
He
said the Hercules would act as a shuttle between Bangkok's U- Tapao military air
base and Malaysia.
Key admitted it was unacceptable that both the air force's
Boeing 757s, which can carry up to 200 passengers, are out of action.
He said
he was told yesterday that the planes are undergoing maintenance in the United
States and the work could not be done in New Zealand.
The Australian, French
and Spanish national airlines have sent planes to Thailand to help get their
nationals out. Key said using Australian planes remains an option.
Xinhua
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