Air Force skydiver killed as parachute malfunctions

A National Children’s Day celebration put on by the Royal Thai Air Force’s Wing 41 in Chiang Mai turned tragic yesterday afternoon when Sergeant Khanchit Sriseu, 38, was killed when his parachute failed to open properly during a skydiving show for local children. Parents and children at the show looked on in horror as Sgt Khanchit jumped from a helicopter and plunged to the runway below, dying on impact.
The show was abruptly cancelled.
Military officers quickly sealed off the scene and restricted media access.
An informed source said the accident might have been caused by the cloudy conditions, which prompted the helicopter pilot to fly lower than usual, combined with the parachute malfunction.