France starts Bangkok rescue for stranded nationals

France sent a jumbo jet to Thailand today to pick up some of its nationals stranded by the closure of Bangkok’s two civilian airports.

The 500-seat, government-chartered plane flew from Orly airport, south of Paris.

France was giving priority to travellers with medical problems, the elderly, and families with small children, said a foreign ministry spokesman.

The flight is expected to return to France tomorrow evening, he added.

The ministry would not say which airport it would use in Thailand. Separately, an official from Air

France KLM said the French-Dutch airline planned two flights to Phuket, Thailand, today and tomorrow.