US Chinook helicopter deployed to recover Thai students’ bodies

BANGKOK, Aug 11 (TNA) -- The United States deployed a Chinook helicopter to recover the car of two Thai students who went off a cliff in California but weather conditions must be considered carefully before the mission starts to prevent more losses, the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry said. Busadee Santipitaks, the spokesperson, quoted the Thai consulate-general in Los Angeles as reporting that the US military sent a twin-rotor Chinook that could lift the car to Fresno County, California, for the recovery mission. The spokesperson said Thai consul-general Thanee Saengrat learned the development from Fresno County supervisor Nathan Magsig. “It must be confirmed that the operation will be safe and there will not be any more victim over the powerful waterway that is close to a steep cliff. The car rests on rocks close to a waterfall and that can make the recovery more difficult,” Miss Busadee said. The county supervisor had yet to confirm if the mission could start within Aug 11 the US time. He told the consul-general that the mission would happen on weekends if it was necessary, the spokesperson said. “Weather conditions and the level of the waterway must be considered. What is difficult is that the operation must be smooth, so it needs careful calculations to prevent the rotors of the helicopter from hitting a narrow passage of the cliff while it is lifting the wreck. Besides, the operation must keep the bodies inside the car,” the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry said. The two students were identified as Bhakapon Chairattanasongporn, 28, and Thiwadee Saengsuriyarit, 24. They were traveling on a vacation trip when their rental car plunged into a ravine in Fresno over two weeks ago. (TNA)