UBON RATCHATHANI, 21 October 2014 The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has allotted a total of 20 million baht to repair the Ubon Ratchathani International Airport after it caught fire on October 17th. However, the airport has resumed its normal operations.
Passengers have continued to use the airport, whereas airline personnel are closely monitoring passengers arriving at the western gate and screening them as they go through a waiting area before boarding their flights. Meanwhile, departing passengers can exit through the eastern gate as usual.
DCA Director-General Seri Jitsopa said that based on police reports, the fire was possibly caused by a short circuit in an air-conditioner located above a shop selling silk cloth and aromatic candles. However, conclusions have yet to be drawn from the police forensics team.
Even though the fire did not damage the building’s infrastructure, repairs still have to be carried out at the airport’s ceilings and glass windows. The entire air-conditioning system also needs to be changed. The entire process is expected to take 2 months with a budget of 20 million baht.
