Police helicopter crash in deep south injures seven officers

 

 

YALA: -- Seven police officers were injured, four who included three pilots seriously, after the Bell 121 helicopter made an emergency landing amid thunderstorm but crashed into a dense jungle in the Balahala forest in Yala province yesterday evening.

 

The No 2223 police helicopter was in its way back to a border police hill base in Balahala forest in Bannang Sata district.

 

The helicopter with seven border police officers lost contact with the control tower when it was flying over Sakai canal in tambon Mae Wat of Thanto district late on Thursday afternoon.

 

It lifted from Bannang Sata district heading for a border patrol police (BPP) base in Balahala forest, but went missing shortly after takeoff.

 

Search of the missing resumed this morning and they were found late in the morning.

 

However as the crash site was dense jungle, the access to the site was possible by foot rescue team.

 

By late today, rescue teams located the crash site and reached then.

 

The aircraft was extensively damaged.

 

All were injured and were taken out and flown by helicopter to hospitals in Yala and Hat Yai.

 

Four seriously injured are three pilots, Pol Capt Thanongsak Prabripu, Pol Maj Asakorn Rakdee, Pol Capt Arthit Phiroon, and a mechanic.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police-helicopter-crash-deep-south-injures-seven-officers/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-08-26

 

Helicopter 2223 is a Bell 212. I wish good recovery for those injured.

1 hour ago, Aussie69 said:

Helicopter 2223 is a Bell 212. I wish good recovery for those injured.

 

Not after Thai mechanics have been working on it for years!

Just another to a 1,200 long list of accidents: http://www.thai-aviation.net/files/Air_Accidents.pdf

It's true

Shouldn't they be running out of choppers soon....?

Probably not a good idea to be flying in a storm? 

15 hours ago, BSJ said:

Not after Thai mechanics have been working on it for years!

 

Yeah, I have heard of the Bell 212 May Bai Reo Reo. 

17 hours ago, fish monger said:

Shouldn't they be running out of choppers soon....?

 

I'm sure the army will get a budget approved for some new ones that will inexplicably cost 3 times the listed price each.

7 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

 

They were buying a new batch from Russia as the US helicopters are too expensive. Not sure if the deal went through or not. 

 

http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/thailand-mulls-buying-new-military-helicopters-from-russia/

 

 

Helicopters from Russia, tanks & submarines from China, sheesh.  At least Thailand will be on the right side when China takes over the world; except for us farang who will be rounded up (because of our 'special' tracking simm cards) and sent packing back to the West. 

On 8/27/2016 at 5:44 PM, Aussie69 said:

 

I'm sure the army will get a budget approved for some new ones that will inexplicably cost 3 times the listed price each.

Errrr- this was a POLICE helicopter.

17 hours ago, Aussie69 said:

 

 

Helicopters from Russia, tanks & submarines from China, sheesh.  At least Thailand will be on the right side when China takes over the world; except for us farang who will be rounded up (because of our 'special' tracking simm cards) and sent packing back to the West. 

Plenty of other countries happy to buy Russian and Chinese kit, why not Thailand?

 

The country doesn't need over-priced, over-technical American stuff. The Russian helis are actually well suited for use over here.