Thai army helicopter crashes, nine killed, probe on progress

PHAYAO, THAILAND, November 18 (TNA) - An official investigation has been underway after a crash of a Bell 212 helicopter of the Royal Thai Army in the northern Phayao Province on Monday evening, which killed nine army officers, including the deputy commanding general of the 3rd Army Area Command. Royal Thai Army Deputy Spokeswoman Colonel Sirijan Nga-thong told journalists on Tuesday that the helicopter of the Army Aviation Center crashed in a paddy field of Ban Jerbua in Phayao at about 5:30pm on November 17. The deputy spokeswoman stated that the ill-fated chopper carried an army delegation, led by the 3rd army area deputy commander, Major General Songpol Thongchine,in a trip to inspect logistics of military units at the Khunjueng Thammikarat Camp in Phayao. The deputy spokeswoman confirmed that all nine army officers aboard the helicopter were killed, including the 3rd army area deputy commander. According to the deputy spokeswoman, the bodies of the dead passengers were gathered at Phayao Hospital and a royally-sponsored bathing ceremony was set to take place at the Khuha Sawan Temple in Phitsanulok Province in the Lower Thai North on Tuesday afternoon, while two more pieces of the helicopter's tail were found in the paddy field, 20-30 meters from the crash site, and were kept for the air crash investigation. Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, while Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr promised that the Royal Thai Army will take best care of the families of all the army officers killed in the helicopter crash. Meanwhile, 3rd Army Area Command Spokesman Major General Thana Jaruwat, told Thai News Agency (TNA) that the ill-fated helicopter began its services for the Royal Thai Army in 1995 and deployed at the 3rd Army to serve commanders' missions. The spokesman reported that the crashed helicopter first left Phitsanulok for Lampang Province in the Upper Thai North, before flying to Phayao and it was heading for Chiang Rai Province when the tragedy took place, with an engine breakdown initially assumed to be its cause. (TNA)