Reckless maintenance caused accident during parachute drill

“Criminal complaints must be filed against those involved before the end of this week,” Royal Thai Police’s key advisor General Jarumporn Suramanee said yesterday, “They must be charged with recklessness that cause the deaths of others”. 

Two cadets, Chayakorn Phutchaiyong and Nattawut Tirasuwannasuk, plunged to their death late last month because of static-line problems. 

In the wake of the shocking incident, the Royal Thai Police has set up a fact-finding committee to look into the case. 

Jarumporn yesterday invited the families of the victims as well as local police in Phetchaburi to listen to the results of the committee’s conclusion. 

“It was recorded in December that the cord for the static-line had problems,” he said.

According to him, a new cord was bought by late February. In March, another cord was bought. Still, these new cords were not installed in the aircraft used for the parachute drills.

“The maintenance is clearly not in line with proper standards,” Jarumporn said. 

The Rights and Liberties Protection Department says the families of the two victims would each be paid Bt100,000 compensation if it is proven that the deaths were caused by others.

The families have also vowed to file civil lawsuits to demand compensation.

Jarumporn said the families hoped to spend the compensation amount on efforts to prevent such accidents from happening.