HUA HIN — A Royal Thai Police aircraft crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff in Hua Hin on Wednesday morning, killing five officers and critically injuring another, officials said.
The Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter went down approximately 100 meters offshore while conducting a test flight in preparation for parachute training exercises in the popular beach resort town.
“The plane was performing a test flight to prepare for parachute training exercises in Hua Hin district before it crashed around 8 a.m.,” Royal Thai Police spokesperson Archayon Kraithong confirmed.
Investigators reported that the aircraft lost stability shortly after leaving the runway. Despite pilots’ attempts to regain control, the plane plunged into the sea, with the fuselage appearing to break in two upon impact.
Initial reports indicated six fatalities, but authorities later revised the death toll to five, confirming that Police Lieutenant Chaturong Wattanapaisanth survived the crash but remains in critical condition at Hua Hin Hospital.
National Police Chief Police General Kittirat Phanphet visited the crash site by helicopter and later went to the hospital to check on the injured officer.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Police Colonel Prathan Khieokham (pilot)
- Police Lieutenant Colonel Panthep Manitchirangkun (pilot)
- Police Lieutenant Thanawat Mekprasertsuk (engineer)
- Police Sergeant Prawat Phonhongsa (mechanic)
- Police Lance Corporal Jirawat Maksakha (mechanic)
Police General Kittirat extended condolences to the families of the deceased officers and stated that the Royal Thai Police would provide full support to those affected by this tragedy. He also praised and honored all the pilots, engineers, and mechanics, saying that from the preliminary investigation, when the accident occurred, the aircraft was losing directional control and heading toward residential areas.
The National Police Chief stated that he has already ordered the establishment of a committee and investigation team to determine the cause of the incident. Regarding recovery operations, he has assigned the Air Support Division, Border Patrol Police Bureau, Marine Police, and Police Aviation Division to work together to retrieve the aircraft from the sea.
The operation is expected to take at least one day, and they will expedite the process as quickly as possible without damaging potential evidence. He has instructed them to accelerate the investigation to establish facts to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future.
According to information from the Police Aviation Division, the DHC6-400 Twin Otter from Canada was the 36th aircraft of the Royal Thai Police. Three of these aircraft entered service in 2020 and were stationed at the Police Aviation Division at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.
Prior to the accident, the aircraft had experienced problems with the wing strut and control stick malfunction. It underwent systematic repairs and was on a test flight when the incident occurred.
This type of aircraft is a tactical transport plane that can be modified for various missions, including airborne supply drops, personnel transport, medical evacuation, equipment transport, and search and rescue operations. It can carry a maximum of 19 passengers and can be modified to install four medical beds with seats for doctors and nurses.
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