Six Thai officers were killed when a small aircraft plunged into the sea on April 25, adding to the growing public concern that aircraft are now the most unsafe way to travel. The tragedy involved a Royal Thai Police aircraft that was performing a routine test flight with six officers onboard Friday morning in Thailand.
It turned into a devastating experience when the small police plane crashed near the Baby Grand Hua Hin Hotel, which was caught on a now widely circulated video. The unsettling footage shows the horrifying moment the plane plummets into the water and seemingly splits into two. A released photo can show residents near the crash site attempting to save the officers involved.
The crash site is approximately one kilometre north of Hua Hin Airport, according to Thai news outlet Bangkok Post. The report detailed that the DHC-6-400 Twin Otter aircraft departed the airport for a test flight ahead of a planned parachute training exercise. Shortly after departure, it became unsteady and nosedived into the sea roughly 100 metres from shore.
According to the news outlet, emergency responders were alerted around 8:15 a.m., and when the officers were recovered from the wreckage, five were pronounced dead at the scene. The five deceased were identified as two pilots, Pol Col Prathan Khiewkham and Pol Lt Col Panthep Maneewachirangkul; two mechanics, Pol L/Cpl Jeerawat Maksakha and Pol Sgt Maj Prawat Pholhongsa; and an aircraft engineer, Pol Lt Thanawat Mekprasert.
The sixth occupant of the plane was identified as another pilot, Pol Capt Chaturong Wattanapaisarn. Wattanapaisarn had suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Hua Hin Hospital for urgent care. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at around 4:00 p.m., per the report.
Local Thai news outlets have reported that the ill-fated aircraft had recently been serviced. This plane was part of a 2020 acquisition by the police force, which included three Twin Otter aircraft.
