Helicopter crashed on Chao Phya: Jor Sor 100

The Jor Sor 100 traffic radio station reported that a helicopter chartered for shooting a documentary film hit a power cable and crashed onto the Chao Phya River Saturday morning.

The helicopter burst and sank into the river, the radio station said.

The accident happened at the pier of Chimplee Temple in Nonthaburi.

-- The Nation 2010-09-11

Channel 11 Helicopter Crashes into Chaopraya River

A helicopter belonging to Channel 11 got tangled in electricity wires and crashed into the Chaopraya River, near Klang Temple in Nonthaburi. One passenger is in critical condition while 3 others are safe.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-11

<deleted>? hope they are ok.

Channel 11 Helicopter Crashes into Chaopraya River

A helicopter belonging to Channel 11 got tangled in electricity wires and crashed into the Chaopraya River, near Klang Temple in Nonthaburi. One passenger is in critical condition while 3 others are safe.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-11

Hope they're all ok. Must have been a shocking experience.

"The helicopter burst and sank into the river"

Must have been one of those new inflatable choppers then.

"The helicopter burst and sank into the river"

Must have been one of those new inflatable choppers then.

Usual quality reporting from the Thai papers

Hoping for a speedy recovery for all! This hits close to home for me being involved in the helicopter industry.....

I saw this chopper fly over my condo this morning, about 30 minutes before the accident, I am much further down the river from nonthaburi

I saw this chopper fly over my condo this morning, about 30 minutes before the accident, I am much further down the river from nonthaburi

How do you know it was the same choppper?

Glad that noone died, and hope that the person in critical condition pulls through.

I saw this chopper fly over my condo this morning, about 30 minutes before the accident, I am much further down the river from nonthaburi

How do you know it was the same choppper?

Glad that noone died, and hope that the person in critical condition pulls through.

A guess, an orange R44 flew over about 30 minutes before this accident, I live on the river, and I have a panoramic view from a very high floor and saw no other choppers. Of course it could have been coincidence.

Not a very good start to "promote" their intended helicopter flying business. I for one would be a little leery of flying with that same pilot and co-pilot. Hope all are recover.

I understood very few helicopter companies had any right to fly over BKK. But shooting anything from a helicopter is a specialist pilots job. Obviously this one is not up to speed! Whilst the crash is unfortunate, perhaps a review of who can fly over the city and for what reason and then assessment of suitability and training of the pilot would have prevented such stupidity. There really is no excuse for hitting wires if the chopper had been observing minimum flight height. Another expensive and nearly fatal senseless mistake.

Hope the victim pulls through for a full recovery.

I wonder how many FATAL car crashers there were today, or motor-cy? where is the details of these Thai Visa News?

It is socially acceptable it seems to drive drunk with no seatbelts here and kill people and give $2000 compensation.... maybe. But oh no, a R44 got wet and hurt an unlucky fellow, Breaking News Headline... TIT and what the heck is it "Burst" ????

Hope the victim pulls through for a full recovery.

I wonder how many FATAL car crashers there were today, or motor-cy? where is the details of these Thai Visa News?

It is socially acceptable it seems to drive drunk with no seatbelts here and kill people and give $2000 compensation.... maybe. But oh no, a R44 got wet and hurt an unlucky fellow, Breaking News Headline... TIT and what the heck is it "Burst" ????

Same the world over. If it's a common occurrence, it's no longer NEWs.

If he was chartered for filming a documentary, the pilot is already in a bad situation. The film crew or their employers are paying your salary and have the right to tell you where to go so they can get the best shots. Still, at some point, if their requests are unsafe or illegal or too risky, you have to tell them no, which can be difficult to do in a highly competitive business.

The real question is, what electricity or power cable lines did he hit? The huge towering ones 50+ meters in the air or the typical 'make-shift' ones that look like overweight spider webs piled one on top of the other tilting the columns over? Along the river, both are possible especially camouflaged along the banks of the brown river and moldy buildings.

Most likely a 'pushy' producer wanting difficult shots and forcing the pilot into dangerous areas. Whatever, I hope they recover and thank god nobody on the ground or in the river got hurt.

Pictures of raising the helicopter that crashed into the Chao Phraya River by @elgrodo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordonbanderson

It nevers ceases to amaze me at the number of armchair experts there are. Why don't some people wait until they get the facts before commenting. As the saying goes, put the brain into gear before opening the mouth.