Wreck of chopper, bodies of three crewmen found

The bodies of the three crew-members were found yesterday amid the wreckage of an old Air Force UH-1H Huey about 500 metres north of an Air Force radar station on the mountain slope in Chanthaburi. The bodies were retrieved from the crash site and transported by aircraft to Don Mueang Airport for funerals. 

The three crewmembers were Squadron Leader Pasit Techasen, Flight Lt Alongkorn Chankrachan and Flight Sgt 1st Class Visut Putthraksa. There were all rewarded with promotions, insignia and compensation for their families.

Heads of the Army and Air Force sent their condolences to families of the officers killed in the crash.

General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, expressed his sympathy to families of the crew and said the Air Force had plan to buy new helicopters to replace the old ones.

“The helicopter that crashed was a UH-1H Huey, which we have used for around 40 years but given the long period on duty, there must be replacements for our air squadron,” Prawit said.

So, he said the Army would put this plan to Cabinet, before a deal can start, the plan must pass consideration first.

“There are always protests about corruption, every time the Army plans to buy weapons. Indeed, when we purchase new arms, we do it on state-to-state trade and there is no corruption in our arm dealing process,” he ensured.

Directorate of Air Operations Control commander ACM Sutthipong Inseeyong said the search teams had found the remains of two helicopter pilots and one mechanic, along with the helicopter debris in the middle of dense forest 500 metres north the Air Force radar station.

Sutthipong said the area had been sealed off and the bodies were carried down the mountain and transferred to Don Mueang by air. 

Royal Thai Air Force spokesperson Phongsak Semachai said the Air Force would host funerals for all three men. With the loss of these valuable men, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Alongkorn Chankrachang had expressed condolences to their families. He would promote them, and compensate their families.

Squadron Leader Pasit would be made an Air Marshall and his family would receive Bt3 million in compensation. Flight Lt Alongkorn would be made a Group Captain and his family will receive Bt2.5 million. Flight Sgt 1st Class Visut would be made an Air Vice Marshall and his family will get Bt2.76 million. They will also get an insignia to honour their death on duty.

The crash happened on Saturday afternoon, when the helicopter disappeared from radar screens during a supply mission. Rough terrain and heavy rain had slowed the search mission until yesterday morning.