Copter wreckage removed for tests
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The wreckage of an Army UH-1 helicopter was removed from its crash site in Phayao province yesterday and taken to the Army's Aviation Centre in Lop Buri province for examination to determine the cause of the Tuesday incident in which all nine people on bo
A commotion ensued during the operation when soldiers tried to prevent journalists and onlookers from breaching the 300-metre off-limits radius of the crash site. They also tried to stop reporters from speaking to representatives of Bell Helicopter, the US manufacturer of the craft, and taking photographs of the process.
The recovery of the wreckage began at 8.30am and took three hours to complete. Many soldiers complained of sustaining injuries while trying to hoist the fuselage from the muddy pond despite wearing protective clothing.
Before the wreckage was driven off at 2pm, Bell representatives and officials from the Aviation Centre said the Army would announce the duration of the examination and the results later.
Also, an unspecified amount in compensation was handed yesterday to the families of five Army officers killed in the crash, including Maj-General Songphol Thongjeen, a deputy commander of the Third Army Region.
The funeral of the five officers is being held at Wat Khooha Sawan in Phitsanulok province, where the Third Army Region headquarters is located, while the funeral of the remaining four is being held at Wat Dong Swong in Lop Buri, where they were based.
The five officers at the Phitsanulok-based temple will be cremated at 3pm tomorrow, while those at the Lop Buri temple will be cremated on Monday at 4pm.
The families of Lop Buri-based soldiers will be compensated later.
