Charitable flight raises B80m for flood victims, hospitals
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PICHAYA SVASTI[/SIZE]
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn gets ready before piloting Thai Airways International flight TG 8870 with 118 passengers aboard from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. — Photo courtesy of THAI
The Royal Charitable Flight piloted by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn with 118 distinguished passengers on board yesterday collected 80 million baht for flood victims nationwide and for hospitals in the deep South.
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn boards a Thai Airways International Boeing 737-400 jetliner at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday before piloting the Royal Charity Flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai with other Royal Family members and VIPs as passengers. Proceeds from the special flight, costing a million baht a ticket, will go towards helping the victims of floods and the southern violence.
Their Royal Highnesses Princess Srirasm, Prince Dhipankara Rasmijoti arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport for the flight.
In a commercial pilot's uniform, the Crown Prince guided Srisurat, the 737-400 Boeing plane, flight TG 8870 from Suvarnabhumi airport at 3pm and made a smooth landing at Chiang Mai airport an hour and twenty-five minutes later.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his wife Khunying Chitravadee go through a security check before boarding the Royal Charity Flight at the airport.
Aboard the plane were the Crown Prince's consort HRH Princess Srirasm and his children, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana and HRH Prince Dhipankara Rasmijoti.
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana
The other passengers were VIPs and celebrities who donated at least one million baht a seat for the trip, the return leg of which is scheduled for today.
Cabinet members on board included Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani and Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen.
Government Savings Bank director-general Goanpot Asavinvichit, Bank of Ayudhya executive vice president Charlotte Donavanik, Siam Commercial Bank executive chairman Vichit Surapongchai, Bangkok Bank president Chartsiri Sophonpanich and Central Group executive vice chairman Suthikiati Chirathivat were among top business people on board. ''Everyone was delighted because this special flight was the world's first flight with a crown prince as the captain and all the proceeds going to charity,'' Gen Surayud said.
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