Wreckage Of Ill-Fated Thai Helicopter And 2 Bodies Found

[webfact]

MISSING CHOPPER

Ill-fated helicopter found

By THE NATION

Rescue team found on Wednesday morning the ill-fated helicopter of the Mineral Resources Department missing yesterday in Nan province.

Two bodies, one of them was pilot, were also found at the crash scene.

The team which reached the site early morning is hunting for three others passengers of the pilot.

Earlier a Nan police commander claimed all five on board including the Natural Resources and Environment permanent secretary, were believed to have been killed in the crash.

Earlier a search and rescue mission continued last night for a "missing" Mineral Resources Department |helicopter, which lost contact with airport officials early yesterday.

Among people said to be on board were Saksit Tridech, the permanent secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment, Inspector-General Kowit Panyatrong, and the senior palace official Sahat Boonyawiwat. The pilot was identified as Major Jenwit Arunsawat and his machinist was Sergeant Withoon Thien-ngern.

Hundreds of officers and volunteers were dispatched to travel on foot, due to rough terrain area amid heavy rain, to search for the craft, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said.

Suwit said he was told the last location came from Sahat's cell-phone at 1pm, which suggested they may be near Ban Huai Eieng, Tambon Na Thanu, in Nan's Na Meun district. However, he had no details on the passengers' condition because of restricted communication at the time.

An informed source said that Suwit had set up a centre at the ministry to closely follow and coordinate the search. They also asked for a Royal Thai Airforce helicopter to help with the search as soon as the weather improved.

Na Meun district official Krittip Chanidthai said a National Parks official told him the pilot made an emergency landing in the district, so a search and rescue centre had been set up in Na Meun.

The helicopter, which left Phitsanulok Airport at 7.30am, was heading to Nan's Phu Payak area for the "Pid Thong Lang Phra" river basin development project. It reportedly lost contact with the control tower half an hour later and the signal faded due to the helicopter's flying low to the ground. It disappeared from radar screens an hour and a half later, while flying over the Phrae-Uttaradit border.

-- The Nation 2010-08-18

[webfact]

Downed helicopter carrying Natural Resources Ministry permanent secretary and aides found in Nan's Na Muean district; two bodies recovered, as yet unidentifiable; three missing

-- TNA 2010-08-18

[haveaniceday]

Wish it was not a fatal, unfortunately some families are in deep distress now. Gone to work and never returned home,

and the ELT didn't activate because .........?...........

Geez, Thailand amazes me.

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EDIT: An ELT is a Emergency Locator Transmitter. Seem every other country in the world they are required as standard, but TIT. Modern ones send out within 5 seconds of impact your GPS location with the serial number of the unit, that has been registered to the person or craft. Send out every 60 seconds for 48 hours and can take massive impacts like a black box kind of thing. They are either turned on manually in the cockpit, or by a switch on the unit which must be assessable, normally in the tail and they turn on by a G load meter in the case of an impact. Save huge amount of recourses for searches, and you can get found very quick.

I bought my last unit for $300 !!!!!

Life is cheap in some countries.

Edited August 18, 2010 by haveaniceday

[webfact]

Helicopter Found Crashed into Mountains of Nan

The missing helicopter has been found. Reports suggest that it crashed into the mountains of Nan province during heavy rain.

One passenger has been confirmed dead. However, there are still conflicting reports as to the remaining 5.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-18

[geriatrickid]

Before people start peeing all over the Thais, please note that the helicopter is reported as a Eurocopter AS350, A quick check of equipment indicates that the Royal Thai Airforce uses an AS350 B2 as an observation helicopter. Eurocopter is owned by EADS. Perhaps you have heard of Airbus.

Considering the weather and the the intent of the overflight, I do not think it is fair to start dumping on people until the investigation is completed. Those were heavy duty people on board and they weren't there for site seeing. They were working and had to look at the area that was under review. It is inappropriate to even comment on whether or not a variant of an ELT was operational, since one doesn't know if it wasn't operational. Recently, an irplane carrying several prominent Americans including an ex Senator and the former head of NASA went down in Alaska. It took 12 hours before the dead and injured could be evacuated. It is not easy to locate a downed aircraft in a forested remote area. It is even more difficult to get to that aircraft. Please be reasonable and use common sense.

[webfact]

3 corpses found after helicopter carrying Natural Resources Ministry senior officials crashes in turbulent weather: Natural Parks dept DG /via @MCOTEnglishnews

[webfact]

At least three dead in Thai helicopter crash: officials

BANGKOK (AFP) -- At least three people died after a government helicopter carrying senior civil servants crashed in a remote part of northern Thailand, officials said Wednesday.

The helicopter, with five people on board including the permanent secretary for natural resources and environment, Saksit Tridech, vanished from the radar on Tuesday after taking off from Phitsanulok province in bad weather.

"So far three bodies have been found and the search continues," Suraphan Trimongkol, district chief of Na Muen in Nan province where the wreckage has been found, said by telephone from the crash site.

Major General Adul Arjalabul, police commander of northern Nan province, told local Thai television that no one was thought to have survived the crash.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-08-18

[webfact]

4 Dead in Helicopter Crash

The Governor of Nan province has confirmed that four bodies have been found in yesterday morning's helicopter crash. One body is still missing.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-18

[Scott]

My condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.

[webfact]

All 5 Bodies in Helicopter Crash Found

The Third Area Army commander has confirmed the discovery of the 5 bodies in relations to the crash of the helicopter carrying the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry's permanent-secretary and other high-ranking officials.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti will be holding a press conference at 3 P.M. in Nan province, where the crash occurred.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-18

[SamritT]

So sorry to hear that.

[webfact]

Deputy PM Suthep: Fallen helicopter in use for over 20 years but well-maintained; all five bodies to arrive in Bangkok at 3pm /via @MCOT Englishnews

[webfact]

5 on board: Saksit Tridech, Kowit Panyatrong, Sahat Boonyawiwat, Major Jenwit Arunsawat (pilot) &Sergeant Withoon Thien-ngern. /via @veen_NT

[webfact]

MISSING CHOPPER

Bodies of five passengers found

By THE NATION

Rescue team have found bodies of five passengers of ill-fated helicopter which was crashing in Nan province on Tuesday, Third Army Region commander Lt Gen Thanongsak Apirakyotin said Wednesday.

Five people on board were were Saksit Tridech, the permanent secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment, Inspector General Kowit Panyatrong, and the senior palace official Sahat Boonyawiwat.

The pilot was identified as Major Jenwit Arunsawat and his machinist was Sergeant Withoon Thien-ngern.

Earlier a search and rescue mission continued last night for a "missing" Mineral Resources Department |helicopter, which lost contact with airport officials early yesterday.

Hundreds of officers and volunteers were dispatched to travel on foot, due to rough terrain area amid heavy rain, to search for the craft, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said.

Suwit said he was told the last location came from Sahat's cell-phone at 1pm, which suggested they may be near Ban Huai Eieng, Tambon Na Thanu, in Nan's Na Meun district. However, he had no details on the passengers' condition because of restricted communication at the time.

An informed source said that Suwit had set up a centre at the ministry to closely follow and coordinate the search. They also asked for a Royal Thai Airforce helicopter to help with the search as soon as the weather improved.

Na Meun district official Krittip Chanidthai said a National Parks official told him the pilot made an emergency landing in the district, so a search and rescue centre had been set up in Na Meun.

The helicopter, which left Phitsanulok Airport at 7.30am, was heading to Nan's Phu Payak area for the "Pid Thong Lang Phra" river basin development project. It reportedly lost contact with the control tower half an hour later and the signal faded due to the helicopter's flying low to the ground. It disappeared from radar screens an hour and a half later, while flying over the Phrae-Uttaradit border.

-- The Nation 2010-08-18

[webfact]

HM the Queen to Sponsor Funeral of Helicopter Crash Victims

Her Majesty the Queen has graciously accepted to sponsor the funeral of the 5 who perished in a helicopter crash in Nan province. Among the 5 included Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Permanent-Secretary Saksit Tridech.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti will bring back the bodies to Bangkok at 3 P.M.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-18

[hyperdimension]

The follwing article was published in the "Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Aug 2010" Yesterday at 14:48:

Missing Helicopter Found

The missing Natural Resource Ministry helicopter has been found to have made an emergency landing in Nan province due to heavy rain.

All passengers are safe.

Is this a case of grossly inaccurate reporting?

[asiawatcher]

Helicopters do not just fall from the sky. Weather is always an issue on rotating winged aircraft as with all fixed winged light aircraft. Be interesting to see what the investigation brings. Sad for the losses.

[TheBarbarian]

One can only ask why Thai helicopters and airplanes maintained by police and army fall down like a monsoon rain every year. It could not be the lack of funds, unless they are to busy patching anupong's balloon and have no time anymore for maintaining real aircraft. This is no accident this is negligence so many aircraft fall from the sky people need to be held responsible.

[moe666]

Those that know Thailand best and have a inside tract on all things Thai are on the loose at Thaivisa.

[IMA_FARANG]

A helicopter mantainance type I know describes a helecopter as "a haphazard assembly of miscellaneous parts temporarily flying in close association with one another for an unknown and arbitrary period of time".

Know do you understand why they have accidents?

And he has been maintaining helecopters for the U.S. navy for over 10 years.

[radiochaser]

This is a minor issue, (except for crashed aircraft) but, I have located ELT's a week after they were activated, when U.S. Coast Guard, Air Force, and Civil Air Patrol (CAP) were unable to locate the ELT.

I worked in California for several years and there seemed to be a lot of non-emergency activation of ELT's there.

One problem is the failure of the owner to register the ELT or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) with the appropriate Government agency and to program the transmitter with the marine vessel or aircraft identification data.

Wish it was not a fatal, unfortunately some families are in deep distress now. Gone to work and never returned home,

and the ELT didn't activate because .........?...........

Geez, Thailand amazes me.

----------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: An ELT is a Emergency Locator Transmitter. Seem every other country in the world they are required as standard, but TIT. Modern ones send out within 5 seconds of impact your GPS location with the serial number of the unit, that has been registered to the person or craft. Send out every 60 seconds for 48 hours and can take massive impacts like a black box kind of thing. They are either turned on manually in the cockpit, or by a switch on the unit which must be assessable, normally in the tail and they turn on by a G load meter in the case of an impact. Save huge amount of recourses for searches, and you can get found very quick.

I bought my last unit for $300 !!!!!

Life is cheap in some countries.

[ppmacready]

Before people start peeing all over the Thais, please note that the helicopter is reported as a Eurocopter AS350, A quick check of equipment indicates that the Royal Thai Airforce uses an AS350 B2 as an observation helicopter. Eurocopter is owned by EADS. Perhaps you have heard of Airbus.

Considering the weather and the the intent of the overflight, I do not think it is fair to start dumping on people until the investigation is completed. Those were heavy duty people on board and they weren't there for site seeing. They were working and had to look at the area that was under review. It is inappropriate to even comment on whether or not a variant of an ELT was operational, since one doesn't know if it wasn't operational. Recently, an irplane carrying several prominent Americans including an ex Senator and the former head of NASA went down in Alaska. It took 12 hours before the dead and injured could be evacuated. It is not easy to locate a downed aircraft in a forested remote area. It is even more difficult to get to that aircraft. Please be reasonable and use common sense.

Unless your Thai!

[webfact]

NAN CHOPPER CRASH

Widespread shock over crash

By The Nation

Bodies of officials killed in helicopter tragedy in Nan brought to capital

The wreckage of a missing helicopter that carried three senior officials, including the top bureaucrat of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, was found in a mountainous forest in Nan yesterday, together with the bodies of all its five occupants.

The search team found the ministry's helicopter on the Phu Phayak (Tiger Mountain), which is about 1,500 metres above sea level, in the northern province's Na Muen district.

The bodies of the ministry's permanent secretary Saksit Tridej, inspector-general Kowit Panyatrong, and the pilot, Major Jenwit Arunsawat, were found inside the helicopter. The mechanic Sergeant Withoon Thien-ngoen's body was found under the wreckage, while that of Royal Household Bureau adviser Sahat Boonyawiwat was found outside the wreckage.

Saksit's team was on a mission to inspect a royal project in the mountainous province of Nan.

The victims' families and colleagues learned about the tragedy with great shock. Saksit's chauffeur for over a decade, Sarawut Prayikul, said with teary eyes that he was "really shocked" to learn about the untimely death of his boss.

"It's very shocking for me. I don't know what to do next," he said.

The driver told reporters that he drove Saksit to the airport on Monday and was told to pick him up for work yesterday morning. "He was a very kind boss and was easy-going. He often had his lunch in the car because of busy schedules."

Kriangkrai Phuraya, a reporter covering the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, said the permanent secretary was remembered for his good humour and willingness to give interviews. "Because he's not tall, he often stood in the front row for group photos. And he often jokingly asked if he was blocking anyone from the camera view," he said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said the permanent secretary often invited him to join on trips to the provinces. "But this time he didn't persuade me to join him," he said.

The permanent secretary's wife, Piyada Tridej, said she was still too shocked to react. She said her husband last phoned her on Monday to say he was returning to his room after a dinner.

Piyada was among some 500 family members and colleagues of the five accident victims waiting at the Bangkok military airbase, next to Don Mueang Airport, for their bodies to be transported back to the capital for their funeral. Among those present was Thanpuying Jarungjit Thikara, deputy secretary to Her Majesty the Queen.

The mechanic's wife, Thimaporn Sompong, said she stayed awake until midnight on Tuesday to follow the latest developments about the missing helicopter. She said she was saddened to hear about her husband's death.

The C130 military plane that carried the five bodies from Nan arrived at the Bangkok airbase shortly after 7pm.

The bathing rite for the five is scheduled to begin at 5pm today at Wat Phrasri Mahathat, Bang Khen, with the lustral water for the ceremony being presented by Her Majesty the Queen. The royal-sponsored prayer ceremony in honour of the deceased will be held for seven days at the temple.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that he had phoned the permanent secretary's wife to offer his condolences. He also expressed his sorrow to the families of all the accident victims.

He said that according to initial reports, the cause of the accident was poor weather and perilous environment. When asked if the helicopter's ageing condition could be the cause, he said further investigation was needed to confirm that.

The ill-fated helicopter is a French-made single-engine AS350, which had been in use for 18 years.

This is the first known accident in Thailand involving this type of helicopter.

Anan Salangskul, an aviation expert from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, said the helicopter had no radar for reading weather conditions. He said an abrupt rainstorm might have caught the pilot off guard.

There was no distress call from the pilot before the helicopter disappeared from the radar about 48 miles after it left the Phitsanulok Airport on Tuesday morning on its way to Nan. Its disappearance prompted a large-scale search, involving hundreds of soldiers, police and civilians.

The site of the crash is a valley full of tall trees, which concealed the wreckage. The helicopter was believed to have crashed into some trees before its tail part broke off, according to Maj-General Cheewan, commander of the Nan military. He said that helicopter pilots from the local army units often avoided the difficult area.

-- The Nation 2010-08-19

[carbine1125]

Before people start peeing all over the Thais, please note that the helicopter is reported as a Eurocopter AS350, A quick check of equipment indicates that the Royal Thai Airforce uses an AS350 B2 as an observation helicopter. Eurocopter is owned by EADS. Perhaps you have heard of Airbus.

Considering the weather and the the intent of the overflight, I do not think it is fair to start dumping on people until the investigation is completed. Those were heavy duty people on board and they weren't there for site seeing. They were working and had to look at the area that was under review. It is inappropriate to even comment on whether or not a variant of an ELT was operational, since one doesn't know if it wasn't operational. Recently, an irplane carrying several prominent Americans including an ex Senator and the former head of NASA went down in Alaska. It took 12 hours before the dead and injured could be evacuated. It is not easy to locate a downed aircraft in a forested remote area. It is even more difficult to get to that aircraft. Please be reasonable and use common sense.

This is the most sensible post I have seen on Thai Visa for a long time! I totally agree.

[Flatouthruthefog]

A helicopter mantainance type I know describes a helecopter as "a haphazard assembly of miscellaneous parts temporarily flying in close association with one another for an unknown and arbitrary period of time".

Know do you understand why they have accidents?

And he has been maintaining helecopters for the U.S. navy for over 10 years.

Yes. 50 meters at hedge-hop height was enough for me as a passenger. Just once. The whole thing seemed intent on shaking itself to pieces. I think there is a major challenge with maintenance here, as the military and police combined seem to lose one per year.

And thanks to Thx Nxtixn for its usual bxllxcks. The very first report said the helicopter was "ill fated". How come? Had some wizard put a hex on it? This term strongly infers that it was doomed in advance. Was the report written by a freelance, the chopper's maintenance chief?

And after several reports, the pilot's "machinist" was promoted to "mechanic." Poor sxd would have been better off at his bench as a real "machinist" instead of a flying mechanic, eh?

Bring back real native speaking sub-editors, Nxtixn!