Bodies of Thai air force pilots, mechanic found

CHANTABURI, THAILAND, June 28 (TNA) - The wreckage and the bodies of two pilots and a mechanic of an ill-fated Royal Thai Air Force helicopter, which crashed last weekend, have been found inside a forest near Kaeng Hang Maew District of Chantaburi Province in the Thai East. Air Chief Marshal Suthipong Inseeyong, Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force's Air Operations Control Department, told journalists that the wreckage and the bodies of the Thai air force officers were found on Tuesday morning and identified as Squadron Leader Pasith Techasen, Captain Alongkorn Chankrachang and mechanic Sergeant Major Visut Putharaksa. "The wreckage of the chopper and the bodies were found at 10:23am, some 500 metres from a telecommunication base on Khao Chamao along the fringe of Chantaburi and Rayong Provinces, by a rescue team who had conducted the search after the chopper lost its contact and disappeared from the radar screen last Saturday evening", Air Chief Marshal Suthipong said. The huey helicopter was on a mission to drop necessities and flew from the central Lop Buri Province to Khao Chamao National Park in Rayong Province. The bodies were set to be flown to Bangkok’s military airport later in the day for an autopsy and religious rites. (TNA)