Blackhawk Helicopter Sent To Retrieve Five Men Killed In Helicopter Crash In Phetchaburi

[webfact]

Blackhawk helicopter sent to retrieve five men killed in helicopter crash in Phetchaburi

Blackhawk helicopter sent to retrieve five men killed in helicopter crash in Phetchaburi loses contact, explosion heard, search going on

-- TNA 2011-07-19

related topic:

Soldier Killed In Helicopter Crash

[webfact]

Urgent: another military helicopter crashes in Phetchaburi

A helicopter sent out to recover 5 bodies of victims of a helicopter, which crashed over weekend in Phetchaburi, is feared to have crashed.

There were reportedly nine persons on board the rescue helicopter that is believed to have exploded and crashed.

The crew included soldiers and TV personnel.

Fate of the 9 on board the rescue Blackhawk feared to have crashed remains unknown.

-- The Nation 2011-07-19

[webfact]

Confirmation that 9 were onboard the Blackhawk helicopter that went down; media members from Channel 5 /TAN_Network

[WarpSpeed]

Jeeeezus the Bermuda Triangle for Helo's .... Exploded and crashed?? Sounds dodgy, maybe the cause for the first one down ??

[beano2274]

The capacity of a Blackhawk is 14 maximum, so 9 in the helicopter and 5 to pick up, would be pushing it, plus the TV Camera crews equipment and medical equipment required.

Could be the TV reporters fault, but that is pure speculation. Why reporters travel in Military hardware is beyond me.

RIP for those who died so tragically.

Edited July 19, 2011 by beano2274

[webfact]

Thai Black Hawk down

By The Nation

A helicopter sent out to recover five bodies of victims of a helicopter, which crashed over weekend in Phetchaburi, is feared to have crashed.

There were reportedly nine persons on board the rescue helicopter that is believed to have exploded and crashed.

The crew included soldiers and TV personnel.

Fate of the 9 on board the rescue Blackhawk feared to have crashed remains unknown.

A major general was reportedly among those on board the Blackhawk. His subordinates were victims of the earlier crash.

A major general was reportedly among those on board the Blackhawk. His subordinates were victims of the earlier crash.

-- The Nation 2011-07-19

[george]

Update:

TAN NETWORK: Reports from INN that Blackhawk chopper had emergency landing in Myanmar and everyone on board safe

[webfact]

First Area Army commander gives interview to Ch 5 that Blackhawk crashed into mountain but no confirmation about fate of those on board /TAN_Network

1st Army Region chief has told TV5 the Blackhawk must have crashed though there was still slight hope of finding survivors. /via@tulsathit

[webfact]

Thai Blackhawk helicopter crashes in Myanmar

PHETCHABURI, July 19 - A Thai army Blackhawk helicopter, flying to retrieve the bodies of five military personnel killed in a helicopter crash in Kaeng Krachan National Park on Saturday, lost contact shortly after it took off on Tuesday.

An explosion was heard and it is presumed to have crashed in heavily forested area in Myanmar not far from the location of the first crash.

The nine people on board included Maj-Gen Tawan Ruangsri, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, two pilots Maj Prapan Jiamsungnoen, Maj Chupan Polwan and two mechanics – Sgt-Maj 1stClass Somkid Wongtasaeng and Sgt Aram Pongsing.

Other passengers are Capt Jate Sookjai, Capt Jakkrapan Bumrungpued, Pte 1st class Itthisak Hinasut and a cameraman from television Channel 5, Sornchai Kongtannukul.

The bodies of five military officers killed in a helicopter crash in Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan National Park on Saturday were located about 500 metres from the Thai-Myanmar border.

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

The earlier 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, SM1 Rangsan Cholsaibua and SM1 Narongdej Pongnumkul. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-19

[webfact]

Army Chopper on Rescue Mission Missing

An army Black Hawk helicopter on a mission to retrieve the bodies of five soldiers killed in Saturday's chopper crash has lost communication with its base and agencies concerned are trying to verify whether it has made an emergency landing in Myanmar or crashed.

A news report at about noon today had it that the army's Black Hawk helicopter on a mission to retrieve bodies of the five military officers killed in a chopper crash the past Saturday in Kaeng Krachan National Park, lost communication with the base.

Nine people have been reported to be on the chopper including two mechanics, two pilots, a cameraman from TV Channel 5 and commander of the 9th Infantry Division Major General Tawan Ruengsri.

The fate of the passengers is still unknown. Helicopters are on standby for a possible search and rescue mission.

There have been conflicting reports on the fate of the missing Black Hawk with some claiming that it has crashed and others saying that it has safely made an emergency landing in Myanmar.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-19

[Phatcharanan]

The capacity of a Blackhawk is 14 maximum, so 9 in the helicopter and 5 to pick up, would be pushing it, plus the TV Camera crews equipment and medical equipment required.

Could be the TV reporters fault, but that is pure speculation. Why reporters travel in Military hardware is beyond me.

RIP for those who died so tragically.

Depends on the model. The PAVE can carry much more in terms of weight.

R.I.P

Edited July 19, 2011 by Phatcharanan

[creck]

The capacity of a Blackhawk is 14 maximum, so 9 in the helicopter and 5 to pick up, would be pushing it, plus the TV Camera crews equipment and medical equipment required.

Could be the TV reporters fault, but that is pure speculation. Why reporters travel in Military hardware is beyond me.

RIP for those who died so tragically.

Depends on the model. The PAVE can carry much more in terms of weight.

R.I.P

'RIP'? Dying is the end – get used to it; isn’t that peace enough?

[webfact]

1st Army area commander affirms Blackhawk helicopter hit hill, crashed in Myanmar due to bad weather, not shot down; hopes 9 soldiers survive /MCOT

[rubl]

1st Army area commander affirms Blackhawk helicopter hit hill, crashed in Myanmar due to bad weather, not shot down; hopes 9 soldiers survive /MCOT

The newsflashes are consistent in their inconsistency. Now 9 soldiers, what about the TV crew?

[tragickingdom]

There is just one term for what is happening: Criminal Negligence

If on average 5 to 6 airplanes or helicopters fall out of the Thai sky a year, something is completely wrong. It is obvious that the bonuses that coup takers take in are more important and higher valued than human lives, in the Thai army

[webfact]

Thai Helicopter crashed once again in Myanmar

BURMA, 19 JULY 2011 (NNT) - After the crash of a Thai army Black Hawk helicopter, 9 people on board are reported missing, including the commander of the 9th Infantry Division. The helicopter crashed inside Myanmar early today.

According to an army source, Major General Tawan Ruangsri, commander of the 9th Infantry Division, and a number of army officers were flying to retrieve the bodies of five soldiers who were killed in a helicopter crash in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province, bordering Myanmar, on Saturday. Also on board the aircraft were two reporters and 2 mechanics.

The Black Hawk crashed inside a forest in Myanmar. 9 people who were on board remain missing and their fate is yet to be known.

-- NNT 2011-07-19

[rubl]

There is just one term for what is happening: Criminal Negligence

If on average 5 to 6 airplanes or helicopters fall out of the Thai sky a year, something is completely wrong. It is obvious that the bonuses that coup takers take in are more important and higher valued than human lives, in the Thai army

Easily written down, a bit more difficult to proof with known facts. With 5 - 6 planes/helis dropping each year, none would be left ages ago. Maintenance may be a bit of a problem, but that's may also be related to lack of spareparts, or age of the flying material. Etc., etc.

As for bonusses for the coup takers, your opinion I guess.

All in all just another of those posts

[Dag]

More like inexperience in sudden bad weather socking them in.

[theanimaster]

I almost read the news wrong.

Holy crap. A Blackhawk down. If flight simulators are anything to go with... the Blackhawk ain't the easiest helo to pilot. I think the majority lost in the US were due to technical problems and/or pilot error. There's a joke saying that a Blackhawk can be shot down with a slingshot!

Edited July 19, 2011 by theanimaster

[george]

UPDATE:

1st Army Commander confirms Thai Black Hawk chopper down in Myanmar

BANGKOK, July 19 – Gen Udomdej Sitabut, Thailand's First Army Commander, on Tuesday confirmed that the Black Hawk military helicopter on mission to retrieve the bodies of five victims in Saturday’s accident crashed into a mountain in Myanmar on Tuesday.

The first army commander met to help the victims and ordered soldiers to inspect the crash site on foot.

He said the likely cause of the accident is bad weather, including rain and strong wind in the valley, causing the helicopter to lose stability and crash into the mountain.

He denied that the helicopter was shot down by Myanmar soldiers.

The Thai army Black Hawk helicopter, flying to retrieve the bodies of five military personnel killed in a helicopter crash in Kaeng Krachan National Park on Saturday, lost contact shortly after taking off on Tuesday.

The nine people on board included Maj-Gen Tawan Ruangsri, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, pilots Maj Prapan Jiamsungnoen and Maj Chupan Polwan and two mechanics – Sgt-Maj 1stClass Somkid Wongtasaeng and Sgt Aram Pongsing.

Other passengers are Capt Jate Sookjai, Capt Jakkrapan Bumrungpued, Pte 1st class Itthisak Hinasut and a television cameraman from TV Channel 5, Sornchai Kongtannukul. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-19

[Sunderland]

UPDATE:

1st Army Commander confirms Thai Black Hawk chopper down in Myanmar

BANGKOK, July 19 – Gen Udomdej Sitabut, Thailand's First Army Commander, on Tuesday confirmed that the Black Hawk military helicopter on mission to retrieve the bodies of five victims in Saturday’s accident crashed into a mountain in Myanmar on Tuesday.

The first army commander met to help the victims and ordered soldiers to inspect the crash site on foot.

He said the likely cause of the accident is bad weather, including rain and strong wind in the valley, causing the helicopter to lose stability and crash into the mountain.

He denied that the helicopter was shot down by Myanmar soldiers.

The Thai army Black Hawk helicopter, flying to retrieve the bodies of five military personnel killed in a helicopter crash in Kaeng Krachan National Park on Saturday, lost contact shortly after taking off on Tuesday.

The nine people on board included Maj-Gen Tawan Ruangsri, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, pilots Maj Prapan Jiamsungnoen and Maj Chupan Polwan and two mechanics – Sgt-Maj 1stClass Somkid Wongtasaeng and Sgt Aram Pongsing.

Other passengers are Capt Jate Sookjai, Capt Jakkrapan Bumrungpued, Pte 1st class Itthisak Hinasut and a television cameraman from TV Channel 5, Sornchai Kongtannukul. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-19

Amazing Thailand indeed.

Will they send a third helicopter???

[cloudhopper]

There is just one term for what is happening: Criminal Negligence

Another term could be accident. The downdrafts created by thunderstorms and high winds near mountains can easily exceed the maximum climb rate of these machines, already forced low due to the cloud cover. They probably wouldn't have taken the risk if it wasn't a rescue mission.

[Crushdepth]

There is just one term for what is happening: Criminal Negligence

Another term could be accident. The downdrafts created by thunderstorms and high winds near mountains can easily exceed the maximum climb rate of these machines, already forced low due to the cloud cover. They probably wouldn't have taken the risk if it wasn't a rescue mission.

Or it could just be incompetence.

[barrybike]

99 times out of 100 my sister in law would be on that helicopter ,she is a reporter with tv5...only that she is gone back to the army to do extra training for a while to recieve more stars ..she would have been on it ...rip to the camera crew (2 of which i met a few times ) tragic

[WarpSpeed]

There is just one term for what is happening: Criminal Negligence

Another term could be accident. The downdrafts created by thunderstorms and high winds near mountains can easily exceed the maximum climb rate of these machines, already forced low due to the cloud cover. They probably wouldn't have taken the risk if it wasn't a rescue mission.

My understanding it's a recovery mission? Not worth the risk at all..

[Atmos]

Or it could just be incompetence.

before you wave the incompetence stick from your point of perfection; have a browse through

List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (2000–present)

and have a look at the military accidents from eg 2010. Plenty of your 'incompetent' military worldwide it seems.

Edited July 19, 2011 by Atmos

[biplanebluey]

The capacity of a Blackhawk is 14 maximum, so 9 in the helicopter and 5 to pick up, would be pushing it, plus the TV Camera crews equipment and medical equipment required.

Could be the TV reporters fault, but that is pure speculation. Why reporters travel in Military hardware is beyond me.

RIP for those who died so tragically.

Why you say ''could be the reporters fault'' is beyond me-------what a stupid statement !!! Care to explain that---------------------Dougal

[mania2301]

Hmmmm....must be the Burmese black magic. Cambodian black magic shoot down 2 F-16's

[Dag]

They probably wouldn't have taken the risk if it wasn't a rescue mission.

That's hilarious.....rescuing 5 dead bodies.....like they could not wait a little bit for the rain to clear.

[roamer]

There were three helicopters, those from the Agricultural Ministry & Environment Ministry turned back when the weather got worse. Not unknown for military pilots to take risks that civilian pilots do not. Seem to recall that Korean Airways stopped employing ex-military jocks for that very reason. Doesn't help either when you have others further up the chain of command than the pilot aboard as well as was the case here, another factor that can cause wrong decisions. It was believed to be such a scenario that led to the crash of the Polish flight in Russia, once again in bad weather, that was carrying most of the Polish cabinet.

Edited July 19, 2011 by roamer