Two Thai pilots die in crash

BANGKOK (AFP) - Two Royal Thai Air Force pilots were killed Thursday while on a routine training mission when their ageing jet fighter crashed into a rubber plantation, an air force spokesman said.

Wing Commander Somchai Padpai and Flying Officer Arun Laleang died when their US-built F5B jet plunged to earth shortly after takeoff from Wing 7 military base in Surat Thani, 645 kilometres (400 miles) south of Bangkok.

"The plane caught fire and crashed," Group Captain Monthon Satchukorn told AFP, adding that an investigation was underway.

"The crash site is about five kilometres (three miles) from the airfield. We are very sorry to lose two more good pilots," Monthon said.

In February an air force pilot based in Surat Thani died when his F5E fighter crashed into the Gulf of Thailand.

The F5B, a two-seater trainer version of F5 combat aircraft, is among the oldest in the F5 series first produced by Northrop in the 1950s.

Most planes in the Thai military fleet are US-made, and the government has reportedly approved an air force proposal to upgrade F16 and F5 jet fighters.

AFP

F5 aka "flying brick"

Two Thai pilots die in crash

BANGKOK (AFP) - Two Royal Thai Air Force pilots were killed Thursday while on a routine training mission when their ageing jet fighter crashed into a rubber plantation, an air force spokesman said.

Wing Commander Somchai Padpai and Flying Officer Arun Laleang died when their US-built F5B jet plunged to earth shortly after takeoff from Wing 7 military base in Surat Thani, 645 kilometres (400 miles) south of Bangkok.

"The plane caught fire and crashed," Group Captain Monthon Satchukorn told AFP, adding that an investigation was underway.

"The crash site is about five kilometres (three miles) from the airfield. We are very sorry to lose two more good pilots," Monthon said.

In February an air force pilot based in Surat Thani died when his F5E fighter crashed into the Gulf of Thailand.

The F5B, a two-seater trainer version of F5 combat aircraft, is among the oldest in the F5 series first produced by Northrop in the 1950s.

Most planes in the Thai military fleet are US-made, and the government has reportedly approved an air force proposal to upgrade F16 and F5 jet fighters.

AFP

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The good *OLD* F5B

i wonder why they didnt eject ? maybe ejecting would cause a loss of face ?