Air Force helicopter went missing over mountains in Chanthaburi

A Royal Thai Air Force helicopter with three crews on board went missing as it was flying over Khao Chamao and Khao Wongkot in Chanthaburi province Saturday afternoon.

The chopper disappeared from the radar and lost contact with its base at about 2 pm prompting the RTAF to launch search and rescue operations which lasted about four hours until 6 pm when rains started rendering the operations impossible.

Search will resume on Sunday morning with help from the Royal Thai Navy as the area where the chopper was suspected to have crashed is under the jurisdiction of the Marines.

RTAF spokesman Air Vice Marshal Pongsak Semachai said that the helicopter was attached to 2034 air wing at Don Meuang and it was on a resupplying mission in Chanthaburi province.

The three missing officers were identified as Squadron Leader Pasit Techasen, Captain Alongkorn Chankrachang, both pilots, and Sgt-Maj Visut Puttharaksa, the mechanic.

Thai PBS

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