PHUKET — A 40-year-old Thai flight instructor died Monday morning from injuries sustained in a small aircraft crash in Phuket, while his Russian student pilot survived the accident.
The training aircraft crashed on Pa Khlok-Monument Road near Pa Khlok Small Airport in Thalang District on Sunday at approximately 4:10 p.m. on Sunday. Emergency responders found two injured people aboard and provided first aid before transporting both to Thalang Hospital.
The Facebook page “Flying Phuket Thung Kwai Bin” announced that airport manager and instructor Surasak Chana died at 5:47 a.m. on August 18. The family and team expressed gratitude for all the love and support they received, with many people offering condolences on the social media post.
His student pilot, 36-year-old Russian national Sergei, who was training with Surasak, is now in stable condition.
According to the initial investigation, the aircraft had taken off around 2:00 p.m. on August 17 for a training flight. Local residents near the crash site reported hearing a loud noise that sounded like the plane had struck power lines during the accident.
Thalang Police have cordoned off the ultralight aircraft for investigation, with the exact cause still under review.
The Phuket Info Center identified the crashed aircraft as an Ultra Light Aircraft, registration UM-22 Quick Silver MXII Sprint. This type of aircraft is considered ideal for flight schools, featuring a single-surface wing design that provides high lift, allowing very short takeoff distances and predictable control even at very low speeds. These characteristics make the MX II Sprint easier to learn on compared to similar aircraft in its class.
__________
