Airshow on Children's Day gone tragic

SONGKHLA, Jan 14 (TNA) -- A Gripen fighter jet went down during an airshow held in an event organised to mark National Children's Day in the Southern province of Songkhla, after the engine had malfunctioned, causing the pilot to loose control of the aircraft and crashed, killing him instantly. Spokesman of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Air Vice Marshal Pongsak Semachai said that a tragic accident had taken place at the Wing 56 of Hat Yai early this morning during an airshow in celebrations of the Children's Day 2017, where a Gripen type 1 JAS 39 fighter jet, had malfunctioned and crashed into runway 26 of Wing 56 of Hat Yai during its final round of flying, killing the pilot, Squadron Leader Dilokrit Pattawi, on the spot. The Gripen type 1 JAS 39 fighter jet has been recently purchased from Sweden and commissioned into the RTAF Wing 7 of Surat Thani. In the latest report, the Hat Yai Airport is now temporary closed, though all operations are expected to return to normal by noon today. The RTAF spokesman said the RTAF has already sent in officials from the aviation safety department to inspect the scene and find out the cause of the accident. Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, meanwhile, has expressed deep condolences to the pilot's family and the RTAF for their losses, while reiterating to all military units to increase safety measures to ensure that no more lives would be lost, stressing that the government via the Defense Ministry would work at its best efforts to compensate the victims of such tragic accidents. Air Chief Marshal Johm Rungswang also expressed deep regrets and sympathy for the tragic event and to the victim's family, noting that he has ordered the aircraft accident inspection committee and concerned agencies to immediately examine the scene to evaluate the true cause of the accident. The deceased pilot, Squadron Leader Dilokrit Pattawi was a pilot of RTAF's Section 3 of Fleet 701 in Wing 7, stationed in Surat Thai province. (TNA)