Incident Details
On 25 July 2017, a Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited Airbus A320-232 aircraft, bearing nationality and registration mark HS-PPE, was operating domestic flight PG279 from Suvarnabhumi Airport (VTBS) to Phuket International Airport (VTSP), Thailand. The aircraft carried a total of 149 persons, including crew and passengers. After takeoff from runway 19L, during the climb phase, a passenger informed a cabin crew member that they had observed parts detaching from the aircraft. The pilots subsequently conducted an inspection and determined that the right engine's fan cowls had detached. The pilots decided to return to Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the aircraft landed without further incident. There were no injuries to any persons on board, and the aircraft sustained no additional damage.
Investigation
Following the serious incident, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee of Thailand (AAIC) initiated an investigation in compliance with ICAO Annex 13. The AAIC sent notifications to ICAO and to France, the state of aircraft design and manufacture. France appointed an accredited representative and an advisor to participate in the investigation. As of the interim report dated 15 August 2018, the draft final report was still in progress.