Engine Malfunction Reported on Prayuth’s Plane

Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha on Samui island.

BANGKOK — An air force plane carrying junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha was forced to return to Bangkok for an emergency landing Thursday morning due to a reported mechanical problem.

The junta leader, who was scheduled to visit Koh Samui, had to delay his departure by an hour and a half after pilots discovered a malfunction in one of the C-130’s propellers about 45 minutes after takeoff.

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Also onboard were tourism minister Weerasak Kowsurat and interior affairs minister Anupong Paochinda.

The delegation changed planes after returning to the airbase in northern Bangkok and departed safely at about 8:30am.

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Later in the morning, the government’s official Facebook page broadcast live videos of Gen. Prayuth visiting state agencies and local communities on the island.