Thai Air Force Trainer Jet Crashes, Killing Pilot

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, May 23 (Bernama) – A Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) trainer jet crashed while undergoing training in Tak province in northern Thailand Tuesday, leaving its pilot dead and co-pilot seriously injured. RTAF spokesman Pongsak Semachai in a statement released Tuesday said the incident happened when the L-39 jet was in a training flight before it went down near a golf course at Sam Ngao district in Tak province. The tragedy which left its pilot, Squadron Leader Kruekkit Suwanno dead and seriously injuring Capt Jeerasak Namwongsri happened at about 2.50pm (local time), he said. The two-seater single engine trainer jet had just left Wing 41 airbase in Chiang Mai when the incident happened. Semachai said RTAF will conduct a thorough probe on the incident to determine the cause of the crash. -- BERNAMA