Accident Black Box Removed from Police Aircraft Crash in Cha-am, Sent to Canada for Analysis

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Authorities have successfully removed the black box from the wreckage of the Royal Thai Police’s light aircraft that tragically crashed into the sea off Cha-am, claiming the lives of all six personnel on board. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders are now being sent to Canada for forensic examination.

 

The fatal crash involved a DHC6-400 Twin Otter aircraft belonging to the Royal Thai Police, which went down approximately 150 metres off the coast between Cha-am and Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province on 25 April 2025.

 

On 4 May, a team of investigators from Hua Hin Police Station, led by Pol. Lt. Col. Narueponat Assadin Decha, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, and Pol. Lt. Col. Kittinaret Arakroongpong, Inspector of Patrol, oversaw the removal of the black box from the aircraft. The team was supported by aviation safety experts from the aircraft’s Canadian manufacturer, technical personnel, forensic officers from Prachuap Khiri Khan, and other related agencies.

The operation involved lifting the aircraft’s tail section with a sling to ensure safety during extraction. The black box, an orange-coloured unit located near the rear of the engines, consists of two crucial components: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which stores technical flight data, and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which captures cockpit audio.

 

Both devices were carefully documented and photographed before being sealed and prepared for transport to Canada’s Aviation Safety Centre, where they will undergo detailed analysis. Officials have yet to specify how long the examination and data recovery process will take before results are returned to Thai investigators.

 

Meanwhile, a full inspection of the aircraft’s remaining components is scheduled to take place from 4 to 8 May. The wreckage will then be temporarily stored at Naresuan Camp in Cha-am, Phetchaburi, before being transferred to the Police Aviation Division in Bangkok for further investigation.

 

Related article:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1358781-police-aircraft-crashes-into-sea-off-cha-am-leaving-four-dead/

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-05.

 

 

 

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Black Box & Wreckage of Police Plane Sent to Canada for Crash Investigation

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

 

Authorities have begun the process of shipping the black box and key components of the wreckage from a police aircraft to Canada, where international aviation experts will assist in determining the cause of the tragic crash that claimed six lives.

 

The aircraft, operated by the Royal Thai Police’s airborne unit, crashed into the sea off Hua Hin beach on the morning of 25 April. All six aboard the flight were killed. In the aftermath, recovery teams successfully retrieved the wreckage from the seabed and cordoned off the crash site to preserve evidence and ensure a secure investigation.

On 7 May, Group Captain Pakin Phetcharat, commander of Special Operations Squadron 509, along with officials from the Police Aviation Division and Canadian specialists, supervised the dismantling of the aircraft to transport to a secured site.

 

The wreckage was separated into components: the fuselage, the left and right wings and the tail section. A crane truck, was used to carefully lift and load each section onto a transport vehicle for relocation to the Police Aviation Division in Bang Khen, Bangkok.

Authorities confirmed that the aircraft’s black box, along with both engines still attached to the wings, will be shipped to Canada for advanced forensic analysis by the manufacturer’s experts. This international collaboration aims to uncover technical faults or external factors that may have contributed to the fatal crash.

 

The Royal Thai Police and aviation authorities have vowed full transparency in the investigation and are working closely with international partners to ensure a thorough and credible examination of the crash. The findings will play a vital role in enhancing aviation safety protocols and preventing future tragedies.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Daily News 2025-05-08.