Newly elected Thai Prime Minister Mr Thaksin Shinawatra had a narrow escape on today when a Thai Airways Boeing 737 he was due to board burst into flames minutes before taking on passengers at Bangkok airport.
One person died in the fire, which engulfed the aircraft on the tarmac close to the airport's domestic terminal, an airline spokesman told reporters. At least four other people, mostly members of the crew, were also injured in the blaze.
Flight TG 114 had been due to fly to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai from Bangkok's Don Muang international airport with 149 passengers, including Mr Thaksin, his son and 20 government officials as well as flight crew.
The prime minister was waiting in the airport's VIP room when the fire started.
A Thai Airways official said the fire had broken out at 2:48 p.m. (0748 GMT), 12 minutes before the plane was due to depart.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
Asked whether a bomb could have caused the explosion, Mr Thaksin told reporters no one should jump to conclusions.