Government vows air safety overhaul

Thailand's Prime Minister vowed on Wednesday to fix the kingdom's airline industry after the United States downgraded the country's air safety rating in an embarrassing blow to the tourist-reliant nation.

The US Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement late Tuesday. Thailand's civil aviation authority no longer met "minimum international standards", a decision that could hamper the operation of Thai airlines worldwide.

The ruling is a setback to the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha.