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Singapore Airlines faces wrath on crash disclosure

Singapore Airlines on Thursday declined immediate comment on the possible causes of a crash that killed 79 people in Taipei, as anger grew that the carrier was not giving out enough information.

Airline spokesman Rick Clements was interrupted during a news conference at Singapore's Changi Airport by a distraught relative of one of the people who died in the disaster on Tuesday.

"Tell the press the true story. Don't hide any more," said Tan Yin Leong, whose brother Tan Yip Thong died in the fiery crash.

"Are people's lives more important or SIA's reputation?" a visibly shaken Tan said as his weeping daughter stood behind him.

Clements, who said earlier that details of the crash probe would come from investigators in Taiwan, adjourned the press conference until about 0315 GMT. Security was tightened around the briefing room after Thursday's incident.

Tan's wife Chua Geok Hong burst into a press conference by SIA deputy chairman and chief executive Cheong Choong Kong in Taipei on Wednesday, accusing the airline of being slow to give relatives information about their dead loved ones.

The disaster in Taiwan was the first fatal crash for Singapore Airlines. One person is still listed as missing.

Speculation about the cause has focused on reports of an object on the runway, the possibility the plane took off from the wrong runway and a typhoon that was raging at the time.

Clements discounted the wrong runway theory on Wednesday. Cheong said in a statement that the airline was keeping its comments to the facts.

"We want to help to get as much information out to everyone as quickly as possible and we appreciate the important role the media plays to keep everyone well informed," he said.

"That is why you will hear me talking about the facts. It is important that we stick to the facts. Speculation on theories cannot do anything to help anyone."

Singapore Airlines, one of Asia's most profitable and cash-rich carriers, ranks 11th in the world in terms of passenger traffic.

Reuters

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