Soldier Killed In Helicopter Crash

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Helicopter crash kills one

By The Nation on Sunday

At least one soldier was killed and four others missing when a helicopter, on the way to airlift stranded soldiers from Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan National Park, crashed yesterday afternoon

The helicopter, carrying four pilots and one mechanic, lost contact with the base while it was flying to pick up some 20 soldiers stranded in the park's Petch River area.

Colonel Danai Boonthan of Ratchaburi's Thap Phraya Seu Military Camp said that, at around noon yesterday, the helicopter was about to land amid gusty winds when it reportedly lost control and crashed in the forest where Petch River originates on the Tanaosri Mountain Range.

From Monday through Thursday, the combined military team had carried out an operation to crack down on forest land encroachments in the park's deep forest, in an area from which it would take seven days to walk to the outside world. The team, accompanied by some media members, arrested six Karen people and seized 70 rai of land that were encroached upon to grow rice and build several shacks.

-- The Nation 2011-07-17

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First Region Army commander confirms officers found 5 bodies from military chopper crash in Kaengkrachan Natl Park in Ratchaburi yesterday /TAN_Network

First Army chief denies chopper shot at by foreign forces and confirms poor visibility from heavy rain caused the accident /TAN_Network

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Weather has cleared, but soldiers unable to reach military helicopter crash site in Kaeng Krachan National Park, five killed on board /MCOT

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No survivors found in military helicopter crash

PETCHBURI, 17 July 2011 (NNT) - Lieutenant General Udomdej Sritabutr of 1st Army Area, confirmed that 5 soldiers were in a helicopter accident at the Kaeng Krajaan National park in Phetchaburi province, with no survivors found. The accident resulted from poor weather conditions, causing the helicopter to crash into the mountains.

As for the flight, the Huey was flown by the Praya Tiger Unit comprising pilot Major Kittisuk Jeeniem, co-pilot Lieutenant Pratya Nuelsri, engineers Master Sergeant First Class Rungsun Polsaibua, and Master Sergeant First Class Narongdej Pongnumkul all of whom were based at the 9th Infantry Division. The fifth casualty of the accident was Major Kittipoom Eakpunt, the deputy commander of the 2nd battalion of the 9th Infantry Division of Military operations.

Moreover, helicopters within the area were assigned to seek out the crashed Huey and signs of any survivors. However, due the poor weather conditions, the search and rescue mission had been halted ,to be continued after clear improvements of the weather.

As for head of the National Park Mr. Chaiwat Limlikiaksorn, and Colonel Danai Buuntun, Deputy Commander of the Praya Tiger Unit, they are on standby along side 50 officials and 5 extra helicopters to provide assistance and conduct the search and rescue mission as soon as the skies opens up.

-- NNT 2011-07-17

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Five dead in Thai military helicopter crash: army

BANGKOK, July 17, 2011 (AFP) - Five soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed in bad weather during a mission to airlift troops from a remote jungle area in central Thailand, a senior military official said Sunday.

Heavy rain and poor visibility hampered rescue efforts, said Lieutenant General Udomdej Sitabutr, the commander whose remit includes the Phetchaburi Kaeng Krachan National Park, where the accident happened on Saturday.

Troops at the park confirmed all five passengers were killed, Udomdej said.

The helicopter had been sent to collect about 35 soldiers who had been on patrol in the park as part of measures to combat deforestation, but crashed close to the pick-up site.

The military is considering sending rescue teams in on foot if bad weather continues, but it is expected to take two days to reach the crash site.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-07-17

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Five victims killed in military helicopter crash found

PHETCHABURI, July 17 -- Five bodies of military officers killed in a military helicopter crashed in Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan National Park were located, but authorities were unable to move the charred bodies out of the crash site 500 metres from Thai-Myanmar border line.

Their helicopter crashed in foul weather during a mission to airlift troops on a patrol mission to combat the forest encroachment and illegal logging in the national park.

The seven soldiers who were stranded in the park had walked to the crash site after the helicopter, unable to pick them up, eventually crashed.

The helicopter wreckage was completely damaged and all five crew members and passengers were killed.

The inclement weather did not allow for another helicopter to land near the site to retrieve bodies out of the forest.

A forest protection unit from Kaeng Krachan National Park would be dispatched by helicopter to the nearest possible area and would travel by foot to the site to recover the bodies. The mission was expected to take at least one day.

The crashed helicopter was from Thap Phraya Sua Military Camp in Ratchaburi's Suan Phung district.

The crash victims were identified as Maj Kitisak Chin-iam, the first pilot; Lt Pratchaya Nualsri, the second pilot; Maj Kitiphoom Ekkaphan, a military officer attached to the Thap Phraya Suea Military Camp; and two mechanics, SM 1 Rangsan Cholsaibua and SM1 Narongdej Pongnumkul. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-17

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Bad weather hampers helicopter crash recovery

By The Nation

The charred bodies of all five personnel found in the helicopter that crashed and burned near the Burmese border on Saturday cannot be retrieved yet because of continuing bad weather conditions, the Army said yesterday.

One body was stuck inside the UH1H's passenger cabin that smashed into the ridge of the Tanaosri range while four bodies were in the pilot compartment that fell down the slope into Burmese territory.

Major Kitiphoom Ekkaphan, chief of operations, has been publicly identified but not the four crewmembers.

No news reports have been made about any radio communications with a ground unit over technical problems before the chopper lost contact, but visibility was in general poor because of the heavy rain and thick fog in the area, Army sources said.

Search and recovery operations were conducted by four helicopters including two newer UH06 Black Hawks with the assistance of forest rangers and Border Patrol police.

The Ninth Army Division, to which the UH1H helicopter was assigned, also dispatched ground search parties.

The doomed aircraft was providing logistical support and supplies to a military task force cracking down on forest encroachment, including farming by hilltribe people in protected areas.

The crash site was deep in the dense jungle between Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi, which is the source of Phetchaburi River.

Torrential downpours had earlier forced a halt to the sorties after a group of soldiers and media members got lost and had to be rescued last week.

-- The Nation 2011-07-18